A routine immigration enforcement operation near a Beach Boulevard grocery store spiraled into a violent confrontation last week, leading to the federal indictment of a 40-year-old Jacksonville woman. Jennifer Susan Cruz now faces up to eight years in federal prison after allegedly punching a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper in the face during a heated standoff that has drawn a sharp rebuke from Florida’s highest offices. The incident occurred near Mi Pueblo, a local Mexican grocery and meat market, while federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and state troopers were conducting a joint operation to locate individuals illegally present in the United States.
From Recording to Resistance
According to federal court documents and dashcam footage, the encounter began when Cruz was observed recording the law enforcement activity on her cell phone while driving. When a trooper initiated a traffic stop to address the distracted driving, the situation rapidly deteriorated.
Authorities state that Cruz became “argumentative and standoffish,” labeling the officers “Nazis” and questioning their support for immigration enforcement. A records check soon revealed that Cruz was operating the vehicle with a suspended license. When troopers informed her that her car would be impounded and attempted to retrieve the keys, Cruz allegedly struck a female trooper in the face with a closed fist, reportedly declaring she was “ready to fight.”
A Chaotic Arrest Caught on Camera
The confrontation did not end with the initial blow. Video footage widely circulated on social media shows a chaotic scene as multiple officers struggled to restrain Cruz. While being moved to a patrol vehicle, Cruz allegedly continued to strike and kick at officers, successfully hitting a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent and an ICE officer, the latter of whom sustained a hand injury.
The aggression reportedly continued inside the cruiser, where Cruz is seen kicking at the windows, roof, and in-car camera. Officers were forced to deploy a Taser to regain control of the situation. Despite her earlier defiance, authorities noted that during transport, Cruz expressed regret, stating the incident wasn’t worth escalating “over a set of car keys” and apologizing to the trooper she had punched.
“This Isn’t Minneapolis”: DeSantis Responds
The arrest has become a flashpoint in the broader national debate over immigration enforcement, occurring against a backdrop of heightened tensions following the recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minnesota.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was quick to draw a line in the sand, using the incident to contrast Florida’s law-and-order stance with other jurisdictions.
“Really bad decision to attack one of our troopers,” DeSantis wrote on social media. “This isn’t Minneapolis… that is not going to end well for you in Florida.”
State Attorney General James Uthmeier echoed the sentiment, releasing a photo of a restrained Cruz and asserting that Florida has “no patience for far-left extremists” who choose violence over lawful protest.
Cruz has been charged with multiple federal counts, including assaulting a federal officer and resisting arrest with violence. While she was initially released on bond, she is scheduled to appear in federal court on February 4.
