Two Austin men are now facing federal charges after what authorities describe as a high-speed chase with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that smashed up multiple federal vehicles and sent at least one person to the hospital, according to criminal complaints and affidavits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
According to affidavits cited by KXAN, the pursuit began on U.S. Highway 79 and spilled onto State Highway 130. Investigators say a white van driven by Isaias Rodriguez Hernandez rammed an ICE vehicle several times before crashing into a gray Toyota SUV, whose passenger was hospitalized after the collision. The same filings allege that a second vehicle, a white Chevrolet Silverado driven by German Rodriguez‑Hernandez, veered into another ICE vehicle and struck its driver’s side door, causing additional damage.
How the Case Landed in Federal Court
In a January press release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas said federal prosecutors had filed criminal complaints against both men for assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers. The office also stated that German Rodriguez‑Hernandez was arrested on Jan. 22, 2026. Those complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and are part of the case record there.
Alleged Escape, Later Arrest
Affidavits reviewed by KXAN state that Isaias Rodriguez Hernandez ran from the scene on foot after the crash, leaving the van behind. Homeland Security Investigations agents later arrested him on April 1, 2026, according to the same filings. Investigators say witness interviews and video described in the affidavits back up the claim that both the van and the Silverado were used to interfere with federal officers during the chase.
What the Federal Charge Covers
The defendants are charged under a federal statute that deals with “assaulting, resisting, or impeding” certain officers, a law that allows for stiffer penalties when the conduct causes bodily injury or involves a weapon. The law is outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 111. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has emphasized that criminal complaints and indictments are only allegations and that both men are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
Neighborhood Jitters and What Happens Next
The case is unfolding at a time when some Austin neighborhoods are already on edge over recent ICE operations caught on video and shared online. City police have confirmed that officers were called in to assist when federal agents were carrying out enforcement actions. KUT reported that neighbors said the encounters left people shaken, and noted that ICE did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.
From here, court proceedings in the Western District of Texas will determine whether federal prosecutors seek formal indictments and how the cases against both men proceed.
