Last week, Capitol Police reported arresting a man on Capitol grounds whose behavior drew suspicions from officers. The man turned out to be armed with a machete, a butcher knife and a brick. Today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the arrested man is a 23-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela who had been arrested by Border Patrol agents near El Paso in 2022 and released because there was no room to hold him. The man is now facing “removal proceedings”, ICE said.
Also on Tuesday it was reported the Democrat mayor of Edison, New Jersey announced he would send illegal alien migrants back to the border out of concerns they could be armed and a security and health risk.
Capitol Police statement dated December 27, 2023:
Yesterday afternoon, United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers arrested a man who was carrying a machete and a knife on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol.
“This is another example of the vigilance and strong intuition of our USCP officers,” said U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger. “I am proud of our cops who routinely work to keep everyone around the U.S Capitol safe.”
On Tuesday, at approximately 4:15 p.m., a USCP officer saw a man pacing back and forth, then sit down on a ledge on the east side of U.S. Capitol. After witnessing the man’s strange behavior the officer approached the man. After speaking with him for a few minutes, the officer noticed a brick in the man’s pocket. The officer asked him to toss the brick to the side. After he complied, the man also pulled out a knife and placed the knife on the ledge. The officer called for backup and secured the knife.
Then the officer noticed the handle of a machete under the man’s clothing. The officer drew his service weapon and ordered the man to put his hands up. The man complied and officers were able to safely take the machete away from the man and make the arrest.
The suspect has been identified as 23 year old Jose Leonardo Marquez of no fixed address.
While the investigation continues, it is not yet clear what Marquez was doing in Washington, D.C. At this time, there is no evidence that Marquez was targeting Members of Congress. So far he is being charged with Carrying a Dangerous Weapon and Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.
ICE statement released January 2, 2024 (excerpt):
Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. took custody of an undocumented noncitizen who was arrested for carrying a machete, a butcher’s knife and a brick at the U.S. Capitol. On Dec. 27, deportation officers from the ERO Washington, D.C. field office took custody of Jose Leonardo Marquez-Marquez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan national who was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police on Dec. 26.
“Jose Leonardo Marquez-Marquez posed a significant threat to people in and around the U.S. Capitol,” said ERO Washington, D.C. acting Field Office Director Patrick Divver. “Thanks to our law enforcement partners at the U.S. Capitol Police, this threat was mitigated quickly. Fortunately, Marquez is currently in ERO custody and will face removal proceedings.”
Marquez unlawfully entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location and without being admitted, inspected, or paroled by an immigration official.
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Marquez on Aug. 21, 2022, near El Paso, Texas. The next day, USBP released Marquez on Alternatives to Detention due to a lack of detention capacity.
Marquez reported to ERO Washington, D.C. on Oct. 5, 2023. ERO Washington, D.C. issued him a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.
The U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C. arrested Marquez on Dec. 26, 2023, and charged him with carrying a dangerous weapon and possessing prohibited weapon.
On Dec. 27, 2023, ERO Washington, D.C. lodged an immigration detainer – notice of action, against Marquez with the U.S. Marshals Service in Washington, D.C. Later that day, USMS transferred Marquez into the custody of ERO Washington, D.C., where he was issued a notice of custody determination.
M Marquez is currently in the custody of ICE ERO Washington, D.C.
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