A Florida woman was arrested earlier this week after authorities say she assaulted a state trooper during an immigration enforcement operation in Jacksonville, an incident that was captured on police body camera footage and drew public comment from state officials.

The incident occurred during an immigration enforcement operation near the Mi Pueblo grocery store, according to local reporting. Police video shows the woman, identified as Jennifer Cruz, confronting officers at the scene before punching a trooper in the face. The footage also shows Cruz attempting to kick a female police officer moments later.

After the punch, Cruz was forced onto the hood of a patrol vehicle and placed in handcuffs. Authorities said she continued to kick at officers even after she was placed in the back of a police cruiser.

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier publicly identified Cruz and commented on the arrest in a post on X.

“This is Jennifer Cruz of Jacksonville. Jennifer disagrees with immigration enforcement and decided to commit a few felonies by getting out of her car and punching a Trooper in the face,” Uthmeier said.

“But unlike Minnesota, we don’t put up with this nonsense. Not today, Jennifer,” he added.

Uthmeier also issued a warning directed broadly at the public following the incident.

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“Don’t interfere with law enforcement, punch cops, or resist arrest in Florida,” he said.

“Don’t be like Jennifer.”

According to News4JAX, the altercation unfolded while Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were conducting an enforcement operation alongside a state trooper near the grocery store. A local business owner who witnessed the incident described the sequence of events to the outlet.

“ICE agents showed up with the state trooper. They detained the driver,” the store owner told News4JAX.

“And so yeah, they had an operation going on, and after that, they had detained another person. But it seems they got into an altercation with that person. It turned violent,” he said.

Authorities have not released further details regarding the individuals originally detained during the operation or the specific immigration violations involved.

Law enforcement officials also have not announced what charges Cruz may face beyond the alleged assault and resistance captured in the video footage.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also addressed the incident, drawing a contrast between Florida’s response and law enforcement actions in other parts of the country.

DeSantis commented on the matter publicly, referencing prior unrest tied to immigration enforcement and protests.

“I do know there was a woman who came out and assaulted one of our troopers. Let me just tell you guys, this is not Minneapolis,” DeSantis said of the incident.

The governor’s remarks echoed comments previously made by other Florida officials emphasizing a strict approach toward interference with law enforcement during active operations.

The incident comes amid heightened attention nationwide on immigration enforcement actions and public responses to them.

Florida has taken an active role in supporting federal immigration enforcement, with state officials frequently stating that interference with officers will result in arrests and prosecution.

Video of the arrest has circulated online, showing officers restraining Cruz as she continues to kick while being placed into custody.

The footage has been cited by state officials as an example of what they describe as unlawful interference with law enforcement duties.

Neither ICE nor the Florida Highway Patrol has released additional statements detailing the operation beyond what was captured on video and reported by local media.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and further information regarding charges or court proceedings has not yet been made public.

Law enforcement officials have continued to emphasize that immigration operations are lawful and that assaults on officers during such actions will be treated as criminal offenses under Florida law.

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