Robyn Argote-Brooks, a Cuban national, was sentenced in federal court in San Antonio to 10 months in prison and nearly $10,000 in restitution for ramming two ICE vehicles during a January arrest attempt in a Walmart parking lot.

The incident began when ICE agents approached Argote-Brooks, who was acting suspiciously and taking photos of families; after refusing orders to exit his car, he reversed and drove into two government vehicles, forcing agents to move and injuring one officer.

Argote-Brooks was charged with two counts of damaging government vehicles and one count of forcibly assaulting a federal officer, but was found guilty only on the property destruction counts, with sentences to run concurrently and three years of supervised release.

The case ignited community debate and led to a packed San Antonio City Council meeting, where residents voiced concerns about local police cooperation with ICE and the impact on neighborhood trust and safety.

City leaders, including Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, emphasized the need for transparency about SAPD’s mandated cooperation with federal agencies during enforcement actions, as protests and tensions around immigration enforcement continue to rise in San Antonio.

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SAN ANTONIO – Serious questions about immigration enforcement, community safety and public trust continue after a recent courtroom decision involving a Cuban national who rammed ICE vehicles during a San Antonio arrest.

A federal judge sentenced Robyn Argote-Brooks, a 26-year-old from Havana, Cuba, to 10 months in prison and nearly $10,000 in restitution following a Jan. 13 encounter in a Walmart parking lot on Blanco Road near Wurzbach Parkway. Prosecutors said Argote-Brooks used his car to damage two vehicles belonging to ICE, with each vehicle sustaining more than $1,000 in damage. The incident unfolded when ICE agents tried to detain Argote-Brooks during an immigration check, leading to a chaotic sequence where he reversed at high speed, nearly struck an officer and crashed into two separate ICE vehicles before being arrested.

WATCH as Argote-Brooks ram into ICE vehicle…

A federal jury found Argote-Brooks guilty of two counts of damaging government vehicles. He was acquitted of assaulting a federal officer. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered Argote-Brooks to serve 10 months in prison for each count, both sentences running at the same time. The judge also required him to complete three years of supervised release, pay a $200 special assessment and pay $9,767 in restitution for the damage caused.

During the trial, six witnesses testified, including Argote-Brooks and four ICE officers who were at the scene. Officers described Argote-Brooks as acting suspiciously and taking pictures of families in the parking lot before the confrontation. Questions about Argote-Brooks’ legal status arose when his immigration parole had previously been revoked, leading to the attempted arrest.

On the stand, Argote-Brooks explained he fled Cuba to avoid mandatory military service connected to the Russian-Ukraine war. His attorney claimed he was a law-abiding resident who panicked when unmarked, masked ICE agents approached, also noting language barriers and communication breakdowns in the tense moments leading up to his arrest. U.S. attorneys questioned Argote-Brooks about inconsistencies on his residency application, which had played a role in the revocation of his parole.

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The case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Walker and Todd Keagle prosecuted the case. Argote-Brooks was processed at the San Antonio ICE facility after his arrest and held while the legal process played out.

We have been following the broader debate on immigration enforcement in San Antonio, where community tensions have flared over local police cooperation with federal agencies such as ICE. At a recent City Council session that lasted more than eight hours, more than 175 people voiced competing opinions on collaboration with immigration officials, transparency and residents’ rights.

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Former San Antonio Police Chief William McManus assured residents that SAPD does not enforce immigration law, pointing out that the department is only required by law to provide resources to federal agencies if asked.

District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur told attendees, “Majority of us actually have residents in our districts that are affected by this and the majority of us really care about what SAPD is required to do, what ICE is doing and making sure that we are informing our residents that they know their rights.”

District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte added, “ICE officials, again, they’re here to enforce the laws of the country. They want to do it peacefully.”

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The ICE agent injured during the January arrest has since been released from the hospital. Community groups and city leaders continue discussing how best to balance public safety with transparency as cases like Argote-Brooks’ highlight ongoing debate about immigration enforcement practices in San Antonio.