The Chicago-based agent was already identified on social media and by Unraveled Press. Now, two Department of Homeland Security sources have confirmed his name to Migrant Insider.
Two sources inside the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the name of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who pointed a gun at a U.S. citizen to Migrant Insider.
The masked ICE officer who stepped out of an unmarked SUV on Monday and pointed his service weapon at Carolina Molina — a U.S. citizen, seated behind the wheel of her own car, in a parking lot off Columbia Pike in Falls Church — is Martin Lagunas, according to two DHS sources who spoke to Migrant Insider on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly.
“This is the same kind of behavior that led to the murder of two American citizens,” Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) tweeted about the incident.” “Trump’s violent goon squad is out of control. We need to completely clean house and rebuild from the bottom,” he added.
DHS has not named Lagunas in any public statement. The agency’s official line after the encounter went viral described the officers as agents who feared for their safety during a “targeted immigration enforcement” operation. But Molina’s video shows her car is stationary as Lagunas points his weapon at her window and accuses her, on camera, of nearly running his team over — a lie ICE agents made after the killing of Renée Good in Minneapolis in January.
Confirming a name investigators wouldn’t
Lagunas, 40, was first publicly identified by Elgin-area ICE watchdog Ismael Cordová-Clough one week ago, and independently verified through voice and visual analysis — including a distinctive arm tattoo and a frayed “POLICE” patch worn across multiple eICEncounters — in reporting by Unraveled Press. Migrant Insider’s DHS sources corroborate that identification.
Unraveled’s reported that Lagunas is a Chicago native who led an Enforcement and Removal Operations team first documented making arrests outside Chicago’s immigration court at 55 E. Monroe Street in May 2025, and later during protests outside the ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois — the epicenter of last fall’s Operation Midway Blitz demonstrations.
That same team surfaced again in Minneapolis in January, four days after ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot the 37-year-old Good — the case Molina herself invoked at a Wednesday press conference, saying, “I think my life was in danger at that point. It wasn’t until after I was like, this was a whole Renée Good situation again.”
Martin Lagunas’ Facebook profile picture.
The “weaponized vehicle” playbook
DHS’s account of the Virginia stop — that Molina “attempted to harm officers by weaponizing her vehicle” — repeats a pattern the agency has leaned on before, per Unraveled’s reporting: almost identical language was used to justify the fatal shootings of Silverio Villegas González in Franklin Park, Illinois, and Good in Minneapolis — claims that video and body-camera footage in both cases failed to support.
Molina saids the gun in her face made her start filmimg. “I think that’s why I took my cell phone out and started recording, because I’m like, ‘yo, this guy is really pointing a gun at my head.’ Like that’s insane,” she said.
DHS’s statement on the incident does not mention Lagunas by name: “The operation was targeting criminal illegal aliens, whose crimes included a hit and run and drug trafficking, and illegal aliens with final orders of removal. Fearing for their safety, ICE officers conducted a vehicle stop of the driver. Necessary background information of the driver was taken and she could face criminal prosecution as a result of her actions.”
The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office confirmed this week it is reviewing the footage. Rep. Don Beyer and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam have publicly demanded consequences for the agents involved.
Online Footprint
Four days before the Virginia stop, back in Minneapolis, Lagunas told a driver he’d blocked in with his own vehicle: “You’re not gonna like the outcome of this, sir. I guarantee you’re not going to like the outcome.” On the day Renée Good died, he’d posted about her death on his own Facebook page. The caption was one word: “FAFO.”
This is a developing story. If you have information about Lagunas or other ICE agents caught on video committing atrocities in our country, let us know at tips@migrantinsider.com or on Signal at pab.202.
A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by an Amazon representative because they wanted to recruit me as one of their “Amazon influencers”. I’ve been thinking about it seriously since then, considering that it’s a lot of money and visibility, and as an independent underground artist, I’m never really sure what tomorrow will be made of. Well I just decided to decline, as the thought of taking an active part in promoting this company was making me physically ill. I am aware that I’m saying no to a big opportunity, but staying true to myself and what I stand for is more important to me. My books will remain out of Amazon, even if that means less sales. I hope you understand – I know how easy Amazon makes it and I’m not judging anyone for buying there. I’m guilty as well. Anyway, if you’re looking for my books, they’re still on www.serioustransvibes.com or on Etsy. And if you think my independence is valuable and worth a bunch of dimes or more, please consider subscribing to my Patreon account, that’s what keeps the ship afloat : www.patreon.com/assignedmale ❤
Stacey Sloughfy is a travel writer who specializes in destinations, road trips, and travel planning. Her passion for exploring began with her first international trip to Japan, where she discovered a love for experiencing different cultures and seeing the world from new perspectives. Since then, she has traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad, helping readers discover inspiring destinations and memorable travel experiences.
Prior to contributing to TheTravel, Stacey wrote content for GoAbroad and WeSaidGoTravel. When she is not travel writing, she can often be found tending her garden, blogging, or planning her next adventure.
This article was updated on August 7 at 12:48 PM EST with a statement sent to TheTravel from Southwest Airlines
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent trying to board a Southwest Airlines flight in Dallas was reportedly stopped by a gate agent who demanded a judicial warrant before allowing the agent onto the aircraft. The July 25 incident could signal a growing pushback from airlines as immigration enforcement at U.S. airports increases.
Now, a report from The Wall Street Journal suggests Southwest employees are drawing a line when ICE agents attempt to access aircraft or passenger information without the documentation the airline requires.
Southwest Airlines Pushes Back Against ICE Enforcement At Dallas Love Field Airport
Southwest Airlines passengersCredit: Shutterstock
The incident happened at Dallas Love Field Airport on July 25 when an ICE agent attempted to board a Southwest flight headed from Dallas to Orlando to make an arrest, but a Southwest gate agent reportedly refused to allow the agent onto the aircraft without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
Southwest employees also reportedly refused to provide ICE with passenger information or allow agents to view a computer screen displaying passenger information as travelers boarded the flight. The ICE agent reportedly had an administrative warrant, which was signed by an ICE supervisor rather than an independent judge.
Southwest did not comment specifically on the reported Dallas incident but provided TheTravel with a statement outlining how the airline interacts with law enforcement.
“Southwest is committed to providing a safe travel experience for all Customers and Employees. The airline adheres to applicable state and federal law when interacting with law enforcement agencies. Southwest has longstanding policies in place to ensure appropriate legal documentation is presented by law enforcement personnel before any information about Customers is shared,” the Southwest spokesperson told TheTravel.
The statement does not confirm whether the July 25 incident occurred or address what type of warrant the ICE agent presented. It does, however, reinforce Southwest’s position that law enforcement personnel must provide appropriate legal documentation before the airline shares customer information.
Southwest Airlines aircraft taking off from Love Field in Dallas, TexasCredit: David Pillow/Dreamstime
According to the WSJ, the Dallas confrontation may not have been an isolated event. An unnamed source said roughly a half-dozen similar incidents involving Southwest have occurred in recent weeks.
An administrative warrant and a judicial warrant are not the same thing. The former is issued within the immigration enforcement system, while a judicial warrant is signed by a judge.
The distinction could become increasingly important as airlines respond to more immigration enforcement activity at airports.
Several U.S. Airlines Decline Helping ICE With Airport Arrests
Southwest is not necessarily the only airline pushing back against ICE requests at airports. The Wall Street Journal also reported that an unnamed airline at a Southern airport recently declined to help ICE agents access a jet bridge so they could arrest a man traveling with his family. The airline reportedly refused to assist the agents. The man and his family ultimately did not board the flight, according to the report.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement AgentsCredit: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Wikimedia Commons
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later said ICE agents did not complete the Las Vegas airport arrest due to safety concerns. The department stated that officers “did not proceed with the arrest at the Las Vegas airport” because of “officer safety” concerns and instead arrested the passenger the following day after he departed from Los Angeles International Airport.
These encounters have raised questions about what airlines should do when federal immigration agents arrive at the gate or attempt to access an aircraft.
Airlines Seek Clearer Rules For ICE Arrests At Airports
The airline industry’s response suggests that Southwest’s experience is part of a broader concern over how ICE enforcement is being handled inside airports.
Airlines for America (A4A), a trade group representing major U.S. airlines, said its member companies have been communicating with ICE and TSA about procedures for immigration enforcement at airports.
A4A said its member companies “have had constructive discussions with ICE and TSA to ensure if law enforcement activity occurs at an airport, there are proper procedures and protocols in place to prioritize the safety and security of all involved.”
Airlines are not necessarily asking ICE to stop making arrests at airports. The bigger concern appears to be how those arrests are conducted and what access agents should have to airline-controlled areas and passenger information.
Issue
Why Airlines Are Concerned
Access to aircraft
Employees may need to determine whether agents have appropriate documentation.
Administrative warrants
Airlines may question whether these documents provide sufficient authority for certain actions
Passenger information
Carriers have policies governing when customer information can be released
Jet bridges and gates
Arrests in crowded areas can create difficult situations for employees and travelers
Safety
Airline workers have to consider the safety of passengers and crew during enforcement activity
A DHS spokesperson has defended the increase in airport enforcement. The spokesperson told NewsNation that the administration had reversed what it described as a previous policy allowing people who are in the country illegally to travel around the United States.
“DHS reversed the horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country. Under President Trump, DHAS [DHS] will no longer tolerate this.”
The spokesperson added, “This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport.”
The statements highlight the competing concerns at the center of the issue. Federal officials say immigration laws must be enforced, while airlines are trying to determine how those enforcement actions should take place without creating additional safety and operational problems.
TSA agents at a U.S. airportCredit: via Shutterstock
For travelers, the Southwest incident does not mean ICE agents are being barred from U.S. airports or that airlines will refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities. Instead, it shows that airlines may challenge access to aircraft or passenger information when they believe the proper legal documentation has not been provided.
As airport enforcement continues to increase, the question of where and how these arrests take place will likely remain a point of discussion between airlines, federal agencies and the public.
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