Man Denies Intent in ICE Vehicle Crash, Says He Panicked When ‘Masked Men’ Approached Outside Walmart

A 25-year-old man who was earlier arrested for ramming a vehicle into federal immigration officers outside a San Antonio Walmart, Texas, told jurors on May 7 that he panicked when U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents swarmed his car.

The incident happened in January, and the accused, Robyn Argote-Brooks, testified in federal court that he believed he was being confronted by unidentified men wearing masks. Speaking through a translator, he said he never meant to hurt anyone.

“I was scared because I saw somebody who was coming with a face mask covering his face and asking for my keys,” he testified. “They haven’t identified themselves or told me what I did wrong.”

The case centres on an incident that took place on January 13 in a Walmart parking lot. Prosecutors claim that the incident happened after the ICE officers checked Argote-Brooks’ license plate and learned about his parole status, which was terminated in May 2025. Court documents presented at the trial also showed that the parole status had allowed him to remain legally in the United States.

Argote-Brooks is currently facing two federal charges: forcibly assaulting a federal officer, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and destruction of government property, punishable by up to 10 years.

The trial has moved quickly this week. Prosecutors rested their case on the morning of May 7, after calling six witnesses over two days.

Jurors saw the video footage of the confrontation outside the North Side Walmart. Several ICE agents testified about the moments leading up to the crash.

One agent said he parked his vehicle in front of Argote-Brooks’ car to stop him from leaving. The agent testified that he did not have enough time to exit before the collision occurred. He also told jurors that he suffered injuries that made him lose work for about a week.

However, Argote-Brooks presented a different account. He said he had been working for a delivery service and was waiting for an order while watching videos on his phone when several men approached him.

“I told him I don’t speak English and that I didn’t understand,” Argote-Brooks testified.

During cross-examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Marie Walker pressed Argote-Brooks about whether he knew his immigration status had changed before the incident. Prosecutors wondered if he had received notice that his permission to stay in the country had expired.

Argote-Brooks repeatedly denied receiving any notice. He also insisted he did not believe he had broken any law before the confrontation began.