MANAHAWKIN — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified on Wednesday that Friedrich Castillo-Ormeno was not the driver who weaponized a vehicle against an ICE officer during a February enforcement operation in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Federal authorities charged 39-year-old Eduardo Cruz Garcia with weaponizing a vehicle to assault an ICE officer during the incident.

During the operation, an ICE officer sustained leg injuries and received medical attention at a hospital. "The driver then weaponized his vehicle and struck an officer resulting in the officer discharging his weapon," an ICE spokesperson said. DHS stated ICE officers were conducting an operation at Castillo-Ormeno's last known address when they observed a person who resembled him enter a departing van. "We never said Friedrich Castillo-Ormeno was the driver of the vehicle that was weaponized against our officer," the Department of Homeland Security said. "We stand by our statement," DHS said. DHS identified Eduardo Cruz Garcia as the suspect in the attack on the federal officer. A federal complaint alleges Garcia drove a white van, refused to open the window, fled the scene, and struck an ICE officer with the vehicle. Benjamin West, a public defender, stated his client was struck in the back of his right arm after the officer fired three shots.

"It gave me goose bumps, because the accusation involves a very serious matter," Castillo-Ormeno said. "It's a serious matter that could affect me — perhaps now, perhaps in the future — because they are practically treating me like a criminal, and I just didn't know what to do," he said. "I don't think it's fair for my reputation to be tarnished like that, especially because, as I said, it could affect me in the future," Castillo-Ormeno said. Castillo-Ormeno is a Peruvian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. in the summer of 2022. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal against him on Jan. 30. He departed the U.S. on March 2 and arrived in Peru on March 3 with his girlfriend and child.

Castillo-Ormeno applied for the CBP Home program and received a voluntary departure incentive payment. He and his girlfriend each received a $2,600 payment from the CBP Home program in late April. "And sure enough, they gave me the incentive after verifying that I was in my country," Castillo-Ormeno said. "If they hadn't verified it, they wouldn't have given me the incentive," he said. DHS stated it supports Castillo-Ormeno's voluntary departure and encouraged unauthorized individuals to utilize the CBP Home program. Castillo-Ormeno has a young daughter who was born in the United States. Eduardo Cruz Garcia, a Mexican national not authorized to remain in the U.S., is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.