Overview
- José R. Ralat detailed three Jan. 22 traffic stops in West Texas, including one by agents in tactical gear who questioned him and his driver while they were on assignment.
- Ralat said the agents took their IDs for about 30 minutes before letting them go with an unexplained warning, and he described the encounter as intimidating and scary.
- He and his driver were also stopped by a county officer and later by a Texas DPS trooper, who issued warnings after asking only for identification.
- A local report cited a photo showing a white truck marked “U.S. Customs Enforcement,” casting uncertainty on whether the agents were from ICE as Ralat initially wrote.
- The coverage places the incident in the context of expanded immigration enforcement under President Trump, with ongoing concerns about tactics and press safety.