A Los Angeles man who was in a legislation enforcement-like car and detained stated he’s getting used as a “scapegoat” amid fears over immigration enforcement.
On Friday afternoon, the mayor and police chief of Huntington Park, California, stated police who got here throughout a grey Dodge Durango on Tuesday evening initially believed it might have been a federal legislation enforcement car as a result of inside have been red-and-blue police-style visor lights and a number of handheld radios of the sort utilized by legislation enforcement.
The officers took a more in-depth look and found the car had {a magazine} for a gun in plain sight, Huntington Park Police Chief Cosme Lozano stated at Friday afternoon’s information convention. Fernando Diaz, 23, was initially arrested based mostly on a bench warrant for an alleged drunk driving incident from Could 11, however he was in the end booked that evening and accused of carrying and concealing a firearm in his car, based on court docket data.
In a press release Saturday, the town stated what seemed to be federal immigration paperwork, in addition to private data of unknown folks, have been additionally within the car.
“This proof is along with statements made by Mr. Diaz himself, claiming to be a former worker of Customs and Border Safety,” it stated.
Diaz has not been charged with impersonating a federal agent, however the metropolis stated in a press release that its police division despatched a case to the district legal professional for potential expenses. In an interview, he stated he’s by no means claimed to be a federal agent and is as an alternative being punished for the unhealthy actions of others.
“They don’t wish to go to Washington and discuss to the president instantly in regards to the points which are occurring over right here,” Diaz stated, referring to “politicians.” “They wish to use me as their scapegoat to allow them to get the eye of Washington or whoever they wish to get the eye to.”
Diaz’s arrest comes amid the backdrop of mass immigration raids which have struck worry amongst communities throughout the nation.
Hours of social media movies, verified by NBC Information, of raids present brokers who lack identify tags, badges and badge numbers issuing orders to folks at eating places, Dwelling Depot areas and automobile washes.
The brokers, often working below the Division of Homeland Safety and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement arm, typically use face coverings and unmarked automobiles.
Brokers additionally typically refuse to provide their names or badge numbers, elevating the ire of civil libertarians and immigrant rights’ teams who argue that and not using a clear identification the brokers might lack authority and invite resistance.
In March, California Legal professional Normal Rob Bonta warned that criminals posing as federal brokers have been making an attempt to capitalize “on the worry and uncertainty” of the immigration crackdown promised by Trump.
In mid-June, state Sens. Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin, each Democrats, launched the No Secret Police Act, which might ban legislation enforcement from protecting their faces and working with out clear identify tags or badge data.
Different officers, starting from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to native mayors like Huntington Park’s Arturo Flores, have additionally clashed with the Trump administration over the deployment of troops and cloaked federal brokers for mass deportations within the state.
“Who’re these folks?” Flores stated, quoting a resident involved about federal brokers. “Are they bounty hunters? Are they vigilantes? These questions mirror the breakdown of belief. When ICE and different federal businesses select to function in secret, with no transparency, they don’t simply implement the legislation, they incite worry.”
Diaz’s arrest impressed the Huntington Park Metropolis Council to move a decision directing its police to “confirm” anybody claiming to be a federal immigration agent. The town of roughly 52,000 is sort of 97% Latino.
On Friday evening, the town stated it was suspending sure summer season occasions for 30 days on account of ICE raids within the area and “widespread nervousness” attributable to authorities utilizing unmarked automobiles and masking their identities.
Flores on Friday invited Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem to fulfill and focus on why he believes her brokers must establish themselves.
The company didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Homeland Safety spokespeople have stated beforehand that brokers want to cover their identities as a result of their data, together with their dwelling addresses, will in any other case be “doxxed,” or made public, by criminals.
The stress between native officers and federal immigration authorities, Diaz stated, has made him really feel like a “guinea pig.”
“I suppose I’m their guinea pig. I’m their scapegoat as a result of they want someone guilty,” he stated.
Court docket data present Diaz was launched with out bail on the gun allegations and advised to carry out group service as a part of a diversion program that may erase the case if he stays out of hassle. The drunk driving case was not heard, however he has a listening to scheduled for Aug. 11.
Diaz indicated there was no point out or concern over claims of impersonating an officer when he was in court docket on the gun expenses.
