A federal grand jury has indicted 29-year-old Mexican national Armando Soto-Carbajal on charges of illegally reentering the United States after being deported multiple times, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that Soto-Carbajal, a citizen of Mexico, had been deported from the United States on four separate occasions and had not obtained permission from immigration authorities to return lawfully. If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison.
Soto-Carbajal was reportedly encountered on June 9 during a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in St. Johns County. According to officials, he fled on foot during the stop and was apprehended by deputies after running several hundred feet into the nearby woods.
These charges are part of a broader federal initiative called Operation Take Back America, which aims to address illegal immigration and transnational criminal activity through coordinated efforts among several agencies, including the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Tysen Duva is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
As federal immigration enforcement intensifies, protests have erupted across the United States, with demonstrators voicing their opposition to recent ICE raids and deportation policies.
In Los Angeles, protests began on June 6 following a series of ICE raids. While many demonstrations have remained peaceful, some have escalated into clashes with law enforcement. The Los Angeles Police Department reported over 400 arrests, with at least six individuals injured, including five police horses and seven journalists. In response to the unrest, President Trump authorized the deployment of 4,100 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city, a move that has drawn criticism from local officials and civil rights groups.
Similar demonstrations have occurred in other cities, including New York, Chicago, and Houston. In New York City, protests outside federal immigration courts led to dozens of arrests. In Houston, thousands gathered to protest ICE raids at workplaces and courthouses. Nationwide, over 700 immigration-related demonstrations have been recorded in 2025, accounting for 27% of all reported protest events. While the majority of these protests have been peaceful, some have resulted in confrontations with law enforcement and incidents of violence.
These protests reflect growing public concern over immigration policies and the treatment of immigrant communities. Advocacy groups continue to call for comprehensive immigration reform and an end to aggressive enforcement actions.
On June 12, 2025, Florida law enforcement officials issued a stern warning to protesters planning to engage in violence during upcoming demonstrations. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey declared that any acts of aggression toward law enforcement, such as throwing bricks, firebombs, or pointing firearms, would be met with deadly force. He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy, stating that such actions could result in hospitalization or death. Sheriff Ivey made these comments during a press conference focused on immigration enforcement, ahead of the “No Kings” protests planned to coincide with President Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C.
Governor Ron DeSantis has supported these measures by deploying National Guard units to assist local law enforcement in managing potential unrest. This decision aligns with actions taken in other states, such as Texas, where additional troops have been mobilized to curb planned demonstrations.
The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) has reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law. The FSA’s report, “Police Response to Resistance,” highlights that most officers rarely use their firearms except during training, underscoring the emphasis on de-escalation and the preservation of life. The report also outlines guidelines for the use of force, stating that any application should be objectively reasonable, proportional, and necessary in defense of an officer, another person, or in pursuit of a lawful objective.
As the nation braces for a weekend of coordinated demonstrations, law enforcement agencies across Florida are preparing to respond swiftly to any acts of violence, reinforcing their commitment to public safety and the protection of constitutional rights.
