A Mexican national living illegally in the United States has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for attacking a federal law enforcement officer. The sentence is the maximum allowed under federal law.
Court records show that Diego Barron-Esquivel, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of forcible assault on a federal officer. On February 28, 2025, Barron-Esquivel assaulted and strangled an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation officer in Wichita while the officer was performing official duties. The attack caused bodily injury to the officer.
U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser commented on the case: “Violence against law enforcement is completely unacceptable and will be dealt with very seriously. Our society would cease to function without brave officers enforcing the law. We owe these officers our thanks and our respect. This sentence shows how egregious the conduct was in this case.”
Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge at HSI Kansas City, said: “This sentencing is a victory for justice and a clear warning to anyone who thinks they can assault law enforcement officers without consequences. We are grateful to the Honorable Judge John Broomes for handing down a sentence that reflects the seriousness of this crime. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who threaten the safety of our officers and the rule of law are held accountable.”
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon prosecuted the case.
