by Los Angeles, CA – A controversial immigration raid in Los Angeles sparked outrage this week after federal agents arrested a U.S. citizen and were filmed driving away in his car with his 1-year-old daughter still strapped in the back seat, according to advocates and witnesses.
The incident occurred outside a Home Depot store in Los Angeles, where federal immigration officers reportedly detained the man Tuesday. Video recorded by a member of the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network, an immigrant rights coalition, shows the man standing with his hands behind his back while being led away. Moments later, two masked agents wearing helmets and bulletproof vests get into his car and drive off — with the toddler still inside.
In the footage, bystanders can be heard yelling, “There’s a baby in the back!” as the agents drive away.
Outrage from Immigrant Advocates
Lindsay Toczylowski, co-founder of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, called the agents’ actions “a dangerous act,” saying it put the child at unnecessary risk.
“It was a dangerous act to have armed men get in a car with that child and remove her from the situation,” Toczylowski said.
Although her organization handles immigration cases, she clarified that they were not representing the father since he is a U.S. citizen, but they helped facilitate the child’s reunion with relatives.
According to Toczylowski, the girl’s family members later picked her up from federal offices in Los Angeles.
“They should have followed protocols that had the best interest of that child in mind,” she added.
Federal Response
In an emailed statement, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson confirmed that a U.S. citizen had been arrested during a Border Patrol operation. Officials alleged that the man wielded a hammer and threw rocks at agents during the raid.
Authorities said he was taken into custody for investigation of assault, and that a stolen pistol—reportedly traced back to New York—was found inside his vehicle. However, DHS did not explain why agents drove the car away with the child still inside.
Officials also confirmed that five other individuals were arrested during the same operation for immigration-related violations.
Law Enforcement Perspective
Ed Obayashi, a special prosecutor and expert on police practices in California, said the situation appeared to be complex.
He noted that in most local arrests — such as DUI stops — officers typically call a tow company and ensure children are transported safely in patrol cars. However, immigration raids can unfold rapidly and under tense circumstances.
“I think they were just trying to get the vehicle and the kid out of there and to safety,” Obayashi said, suggesting that the agents acted out of concern amid growing onlooker attention.
Family Reacts to the Incident
The man’s mother, Maria, said the family received a call from an unknown number the next day, instructing them to retrieve the girl from U.S. Border Patrol offices.
Maria, who said both she and her granddaughter are U.S. citizens, described the ordeal as “terrifying.”
“It’s something very frightening,” she said in Spanish. “You don’t know who those people are.”
She added that the toddler is now safe but keeps asking for her father, who remains in custody as of Wednesday.
According to Maria, her son was born in California and works in the restaurant industry. His current legal status and whereabouts remain unclear.
Continuing Investigation
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided a timeline for its investigation or addressed whether the agents involved followed standard child safety procedures. Immigration advocates have called for greater transparency and accountability following the incident.
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