An officer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sustained serious injuries on Monday while apprehending a Salvadoran national in Houston, officials reported.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement revealing that the officer was assaulted when twice-deported Leonel Perez Rodriguez struck him in the face with a metal coffee cup.

During the arrest of 33-year-old Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez, the ICE officer suffered significant injuries, including severe facial burns and a deep laceration that required 13 stitches to close.

The altercation occurred as ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers attempted to detain Rodriguez following his latest illegal reentry into the United States.

The incident happened when ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers tried to detain Rodriguez, 33, after his most recent reentry into the U.S.

Authorities said Rodriguez has since been referred for federal prosecution for illegal reentry and assaulting a federal officer.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was allegedly injured by Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez. (Department of Homeland Security)

Per the release, Rodriguez’s criminal record includes a conviction for sexual assault of a child under 17, multiple DUIs and repeated illegal entries into the U.S.

He was deported in 2013 and again in 2020 after serving prison time for his offenses.

“This young officer’s life has forever been altered as a result of the continued hyper-politicization of routine law enforcement activities and spread of misinformation by the media, NGOs, and other groups opposed to immigration enforcement,” said Bret Bradford, ICE’s Houston Field Office Director.

ICE moves forward with its operations nationwide amid what DHS officials have called “the Democrats’ longest government shutdown in American history.” (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“By focusing on our officers and spreading false propaganda about how we accomplish our mission, they are emboldening dangerous illegal aliens like this child predator to physically resist arrest. This insanity has to stop before anyone else gets hurt.”

The assault comes as ICE moves forward with its operations nationwide amid what DHS officials have called “the Democrats’ longest government shutdown in American history.”

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin praised ICE personnel Thursday for maintaining operations under challenging conditions.

“The shutdown has not stopped ICE from protecting American communities,” she said in a statement.

“Seventy percent of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of crimes in the United States. Our officers remain committed to keeping the nation safe, regardless of political obstacles.”