A Venezuelan illegal immigrant attempting to dodge justice in New Hampshire ended up flat on the floor—and in federal custody—after a dramatic takedown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents was captured on courthouse security cameras.
Arnuel Marquez Colmenarez, 33, was set to be arraigned on February 20 at a Nashua courthouse for drunk driving, driving without a license, and failure to provide information after a crash. But instead of facing the charges, he bolted. Big mistake.
Newly released footage shows Colmenarez sprinting down a hallway before being tackled by ICE officers in plain clothes, just steps away from the courtroom. In the chaos, an elderly bystander was knocked down by the immigrant. It’s unclear if he was injured.
NEW: Security footage shows ICE agents tackling a Venezuelan man in a New Hampshire courthouse after he tried fleeing.
I hope the elderly man is ok.
33-year-old Arnuel Marquez Colmenarez was taken to the ground by federal agents.
Colmenarez had been charged with… pic.twitter.com/y6da67wZ4G
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 15, 2025
Witnesses were stunned. One woman told News9, “I was confused. It seemed like something was happening.” She added that the agents yelled at Colmenarez as he hit the ground, telling him, “Why was he running?” and ordering him to stay put.
According to ICE, Colmenarez was in the U.S. illegally and had a previous arrest record. After the incident, he was immediately taken into federal custody and transported to a detention facility in Texas, where he now awaits deportation proceedings.
ICE issued a statement in response, reiterating their focus on removing individuals who pose a public safety threat and upholding immigration law. “We are focusing all our law enforcement personnel on mitigating public safety threats and preserving the integrity of our immigration laws,” the agency said.
Reports from The Boston Globe and New Hampshire Public Radio confirm that the plainclothes ICE agents were at the courthouse as part of a larger effort to target illegal immigrants appearing for criminal arraignments. According to a police report from Officer Jered Neff—who responded to the incident—the agents were coordinating with both ICE and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
In short: if you’re in the country illegally and show up at court to answer for DUI charges, don’t expect to just walk out the front door afterward.
The incident underscores the renewed emphasis under the Trump administration on interior enforcement, and it sends a clear message: the courthouse isn’t a sanctuary—not anymore.
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