Teodoro Dominguez Rodriguez, a 41-year-old illegal immigrant and house painter, walked out of a Charlottesville courtroom a free man after a local judge dismissed his assault charge. But his brief taste of freedom was short-lived—ICE officers were waiting.
A video obtained by The Daily Progress captures the precise moment plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents intercepted Rodriguez outside the courthouse. The agents calmly approached, identified their subject, and took him into custody without incident.
Calm Arrest Meets Radical Resistance
Despite the professionalism of ICE officers, leftist agitators on the scene immediately attempted to disrupt the lawful arrest. One woman physically blocked the lead officer, while another tried to interfere with the detainment. The agent, unfazed, issued a direct warning:
“Do not touch me or impede me in my lawful duties… There is a crime for you to do so.”
While the arrest itself was uneventful from a law enforcement perspective, the reaction from radical activists and public defenders has been fierce.
Public Defender Cries Foul
Nicholas Reppucci, head of the Charlottesville Office of the Public Defender and Rodriguez’s attorney, denounced the operation as “highly alarming” and “unprecedented.” In statements to The Daily Progress, he claimed the federal agents “took over a state agency with federal force” and failed to present warrants.
“I’ve been here since 1999,” said Reppucci, “and I have not seen anything like this before.”
In reality, ICE followed standard enforcement protocol. The operation was conducted outside the courtroom, after the case had concluded, and within the agents’ lawful jurisdiction. Contrary to the defenders’ outrage, ICE did not “storm” the courtroom or interrupt any proceedings.
Second Illegal Alien Detained During DUI Fine Payment
In a related development, a second illegal alien, also a house painter, was reportedly detained while attempting to pay off a drunk driving fine. The optics of immigration activists defending someone with a DUI conviction underscore a troubling double standard in left-wing sanctuary city politics.
Local Police Attempt to Distance Themselves
The Albemarle County Police Department was quick to issue a statement distancing themselves from the ICE operation. Department spokesperson Logan Bogert emphasized that the department “does not inquire into the immigration status of victims or witnesses” and clarified that they only work with ICE on “significant cases” like homicide and child exploitation.
“We do not have the legal authority to enforce federal immigration laws,” the statement read.
The Bigger Picture: Law Enforcement or Lawlessness?
This case is just one example in a growing trend: federal immigration officers doing their job are being villainized while criminals are treated as victims. ICE agents acted within the bounds of the law. They did not interfere with state proceedings. They waited. They watched. Then they arrested—peacefully.
Rodriguez, after being dismissed from local charges, still had federal immigration violations to answer for. For many Americans, that’s exactly what should happen. A criminal record, combined with illegal presence, is cause for removal under immigration law. The Biden-era sanctuary mindset may have allowed repeat offenders to walk free, but under the Trump administration, ICE has its mandate restored.
Conclusion
As President Trump and Attorney General Pamela Bondi continue to restore America First immigration enforcement, this case demonstrates the sharp contrast between the rule of law and progressive obstructionism. One side upholds justice; the other sides with lawbreakers.
ICE did its job. The outrage is political theater.
