A Guatemalan illegal immigrant’s desperate attempt to evade ICE authorities led to an unusual eight-hour standoff in a San Antonio neighborhood as he took refuge in a tree while federal agents waited below.

At a Glance

• Raul Ical, 29, a Guatemalan national wanted for illegal reentry, climbed a tree to escape ICE agents during a traffic stop in San Antonio
• Ical had previously been deported in 2013 and faced warrants for illegally returning to the United States
• Using a ladder and roof as his escape route, Ical remained in the tree for eight hours as authorities attempted to talk him down
• Local residents and workers witnessed the unusual standoff in their west side neighborhood
• Ical eventually surrendered to federal agents after the prolonged tree-top hideout

Eight-Hour Tree Standoff

On April 29, federal agents and state troopers attempted to apprehend 29-year-old Raul Ical during a routine traffic stop on the west side of San Antonio, Texas. When immigration officers approached the vehicle, Ical, who was a passenger, quickly fled the scene. In a desperate bid to avoid capture, the Guatemalan national took an unconventional escape route – climbing a ladder onto a roof and then scrambling into a nearby tree near the intersection of Ceralvo and South Navidad streets. What followed was an eight-hour standoff as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers tried to convince Ical to come down and face arrest.

The dramatic scene unfolded in front of neighborhood residents who watched with curiosity as the situation developed. Ical, who had previously been deported from the United States in 2013, was facing warrants related to his illegal reentry into the country. Federal authorities maintained their positions around the tree, patiently waiting and attempting to negotiate with Ical throughout the day. The unusual nature of the escape attempt drew attention from local onlookers and eventually media outlets who documented the prolonged standoff.

Neighborhood Reaction

Residents in the west San Antonio neighborhood expressed surprise at the unusual scene unfolding on their streets. One local woman remained at the scene throughout much of the standoff, curious about how the situation would eventually resolve. The incident represented an unprecedented occurrence for many community members, who found themselves unwitting spectators to an immigration enforcement operation. Mike Howell, who works at a nearby business, observed the strange cat-and-mouse game as it played out over several hours.

Howell provided additional details about how the situation unfolded, noting the moment when authorities realized where Ical had hidden. “They walked around and didn’t see him and then looked up and went, ‘Oh!’ There he was in the tree,” Howell recounted. The local worker also observed that while Ical’s hiding spot initially seemed clever, the physical realities of remaining in a tree for hours likely became increasingly uncomfortable as the standoff continued. The unusual incident created a day of unexpected drama in what residents described as an otherwise quiet neighborhood.

Ultimate Surrender

After spending eight hours precariously perched in the tree, Ical finally surrendered to the federal agents waiting below. The prolonged standoff concluded when authorities successfully persuaded him to descend from his arboreal hiding place and face the legal consequences of his actions. Ical was taken into custody to answer for the warrants related to his illegal reentry into the United States following his previous deportation in 2013. The unusual nature of this escape attempt highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by immigration enforcement authorities.

Following his capture, Ical appeared in federal court to face charges related to his immigration status and attempted evasion of law enforcement. The incident serves as an unusual example of the lengths some individuals will go to avoid deportation proceedings.

While Ical’s tree-climbing strategy bought him several hours of freedom, it ultimately proved unsuccessful. The case represents one of many enforcement actions conducted by immigration authorities in border states as they work to address illegal reentry situations throughout the southern United States.