OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – A man is facing a federal charge after he flipped off Border Patrol agents transporting detainees on I-96 and brake-checked their cars, according to court documents.
On July 7, 2025, Border Patrol agents were transporting 15 people detained on violations of immigration law from the Gibraltar Border Patrol Station to the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin in two separate marked cars.
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While the Border Patrol agents were traveling in the center lane on I-96 near the Kensington Road exit at around 5 p.m., one of the agents noticed a black sedan driving by their cars from the left passing lane.
As the sedan approached, the driver allegedly raised his hand and flipped off the agents.
The Border Patrol agent driving one of the cars noticed the sedan quickly approaching in the left passing lane before abruptly cutting in front of their vehicle and rapidly decreasing speed. This caused the border agents driving their cars to immediately brake.
According to the Border Patrol agents, there was no debris on the roadway, adverse weather conditions, nearby off-ramps, or heavy traffic to cause the driver of the sedan to change lanes and brake suddenly.
The driver of the sedan then allegedly stuck his hand out of the sunroof of his car and flipped off the Border Patrol agents again before speeding off.
After a short time, the driver of the sedan slowed down in the left lane before immediately turning into the center lane in front of the Border Patrol vehicle, causing the Border Patrol cars to abruptly slow down. Court documents state that the sudden stop caused the immigrant detainees to slam against the interior walls in the back of the patrol vehicle.
The Border Patrol agents reported seeing the driver merge onto southbound US-23 as they merged onto northbound US-23.
After merging, Border Patrol agents stopped at the first available off-ramp to check on the detainees.
Following this incident, federal law enforcement searched the license plate on the sedan and learned it belonged to Jacob Nathaniel Len.
On July 30, federal agents interviewed Len outside the home listed on his driver’s license. During the conversation, Len confirmed he drove a black sedan that was parked in his garage. He reportedly admitted he was driving on I-96 and that he “flicked off” the Border Patrol cars. At first, he reportedly denied that he brake-checked the cars, but later admitted that brake-checking the cars could have hurt people inside.
“Mr. Len not only jeopardized the safety of our agents and the detainees in their custody, but also endangered other motorists,” said John Morris, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Detroit sector. “Our agents are committed to carrying out their duties with professionalism and dedication, and we will not tolerate behavior that endangers their lives or the lives of others.”
“Americans have the right to protest policies they don’t like, but criminal activity crosses a line,” Morris continued. “Anyone who endangers our agents or obstructs their mission will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Len faces a federal charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees.