LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal immigration agents arrested a U.S. citizen and took his car with a child in the back seat during a raid in Los Angeles, as reported by advocates and family members.
In a video shared by immigrant advocates, armed agents are seen taking a man into custody by his car while his 1-year-old daughter was strapped into a car seat. Following the arrest, the agents drove away in the car, leaving the girl behind. According to Lindsay Toczylowski, co-founder of Immigrant Defenders Law Center, the man, who is a U.S. citizen, was detained during a federal immigration operation targeting alleged immigration violations at a Home Depot.
Toczylowski expressed concern over the incident, highlighting the risks of having armed agents drive off with a child. They should have followed protocols that had the best interest of that child in mind, she stated. Thankfully, relatives managed to retrieve the child later that day from federal offices.
The Department of Homeland Security later clarified that the U.S. citizen was arrested for allegedly assaulting Border Patrol agents. Reports indicate that five immigrants were apprehended during the same operation.
As of now, there are still unanswered questions regarding the father's whereabouts more than 24 hours following his arrest. His mother, Maria, indicated that they received an unknown call directing them to pick up the child from Border Patrol. She reassured that the child is safe but eager to see her father, who works in the restaurant industry.
Maria, along with her granddaughter, is also a U.S. citizen and expressed her fear over the situation, stating, It’s something very frightening. You don’t know who those people are.
