A tense confrontation unfolded in Western New York, culminating in the arrest of a Turkish national following a struggle with law enforcement. Saim Irgi, 39, now finds himself in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, accused of violently resisting arrest and attempting to disarm an officer.
The incident escalated rapidly as officers attempted to take Irgi into custody. During the struggle, authorities allege Irgi repeatedly shouted “Allahu akbar” – “God is great” – while actively fighting and attempting to seize an officer’s taser. It took the deployment of another taser to finally subdue him.
The events began with a targeted operation in Tonawanda, where officers observed a vehicle leaving a residence linked to an ongoing investigation. A traffic stop was initiated, revealing the driver to be Irgi, identified as a citizen of Turkey unlawfully present in the United States.
Despite repeated commands to exit the vehicle, Irgi refused to comply. An ICE officer drew a taser, clearly warning Irgi of the potential use of force if he continued to resist. The situation quickly deteriorated as officers attempted to place him under arrest.
Following his arrest, Irgi was transported to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility and medically cleared for detention. His history reveals a pattern of encounters with law enforcement since illegally crossing the southern border in July 2023.
His initial entry into the country was recorded by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Jamul, California, after he crossed from Mexico. He was released pending further immigration proceedings, a decision that would soon be followed by further legal troubles.
In March, Irgi faced charges of simple assault in Pennsauken, New Jersey, though those charges were later dropped. The same day, Philadelphia police arrested him on more serious allegations, including strangling, simple assault, and reckless endangerment.
ICE officials have described Irgi as “a significant public safety threat,” emphasizing their commitment to removing individuals deemed dangerous from the country. Removal proceedings are currently underway as Irgi remains in ICE custody, awaiting further action.
