A video of an ICE agent breaking the window of a car during a traffic stop in Weber County, Utah, has gone viral on the social media platform X. The incident occurred on a stretch of I-15 near 5600 South, where the vehicle was reportedly traveling at 90 miles per hour, according to the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP).

Initial Traffic Stop and ICE Involvement

UHP Major Chamberlin Neff explained that the driver initially presented a photo ID on a cell phone, which was a Mexican ID but lacked a driver’s license. This identification revealed an active federal detainer, prompting UHP to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Passengers and Flight

During the stop, troopers discovered three individuals inside the vehicle, none of whom possessed valid driver’s licenses or identification. The front passenger exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, pursued by a UHP trooper and a federal agent.

Window Broken, Arrests Made

According to Major Neff, the driver remained barricaded inside the vehicle and refused to comply with orders to exit. This led the ICE agent to break the car window to gain entry and arrest the driver, as seen in the widely shared video.

Both the driver and the fleeing passenger had active ICE detainers. The individual who filmed the incident was also arrested for interfering with law enforcement.

UHP Justification and Use of Force

When questioned about the legality of breaking a vehicle window during a traffic stop, Major Neff stated that the primary goal is always voluntary surrender. However, in this case, the driver’s refusal to comply necessitated escalation to achieve compliance.

“So ICE in this situation, the ICE agent did feel that breaking the window was his ultimate decision to make,” Neff said. “So he did break that window, which ultimately allowed us to be able to open the door and then arrest that driver.”

Training and Potential Consequences

UHP officers are trained to escalate force if faced with non-compliance. Neff confirmed that breaking a window and physically removing individuals from a vehicle are within the scope of their training. He also acknowledged that unjustified use of force could lead to civil litigation, policy violations, or even criminal charges.

2News reached out to ICE for comment and confirmation regarding the agent’s actions and agency policies, but did not receive a response.