Federal Agents Tackle Venezuelan Man in Courthouse Arrest, Now Held in Texas

Arnuel S. Marquez Colmenarez's detention highlights contentious federal enforcement tactics in sensitive locations like courthouses.

Arnuel S. Marquez Colmenarez, a Venezuelan man facing misdemeanor charges, was apprehended by ICE and ATF agents inside a New Hampshire courthouse on February 20, 2025.
The arrest involved a physical altercation in which Marquez Colmenarez was tackled to the ground, and an elderly bystander was knocked down in the process.
Federal agents attempted to detain Marquez Colmenarez in an elevator, but he fled, leading to the dramatic confrontation captured on courthouse security footage.
A bench warrant was issued for Marquez Colmenarez's failure to appear in court, despite his detention preventing him from entering the courtroom.
He is currently held at the Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo, Texas, as debates over federal immigration enforcement policies in sensitive locations continue.