A U.S. citizen who was reportedly arrested by federal immigration agents outside his workplace in Simi Valley, California, believes he was targeted because of his skin color.
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
Why It Matters
The arrest raises concerns surrounding racial profiling by federal agents. There have been several cases of U.S. citizens who have been apprehended by officials and made allegations of racial profiling.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been facing increased scrutiny as President Donald Trump‘s administration looks to remove millions of migrants to fulfill his pledge to conduct the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history.
Gregory Bull/AP
What To Know
Rodrigo Almendarez, a U.S. citizen born in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, told Fox 11 that federal agents approached him without identifying themselves or explaining why he was being detained.
“I am dark skin, I am Mexican, I am brown. It makes me mad. Really mad. Like I said, I’m American. You know, my background is Mexican, but I was born in this country. They would have got off and asked me, ‘Hey, sir, we have a question.’ I could have answered, but they didn’t. They profiled me, just tried to grab me like if I was a criminal,” Almendarez told the outlet.
Almendarez, who works as a driver for JB Wholesale Roofing and Building Supplies, was doing his job when the agents approached, Fox 11 reported
He told the outlet he believes his appearance played a significant role in his wrongful detention.
Only after Almendarez showed his identification and a coworker intervened were the agents persuaded to release him, according to Fox 11.
Cellphone footage captured part of the encounter, showing the agents moving to detain Almendarez.
Surveillance video obtained by Fox 11 shows the agents’ SUV was left in drive and rolled forward. An agent had to dash after it, and the vehicle’s passenger-side mirror was shattered in the confusion.
Almendarez told Fox 11 the incident made him feel mad and upset due to his status as a U.S. citizen. He added that he would have been happy to cooperate if agents had asked him any questions, but he maintains they did not.
What People Are Saying
Rodrigo Almendarez told Fox 11: “They just got me by surprise. I didn’t know what was going on, who they were. What did I do wrong? They never told me who they were or who they were looking for or anything.”
What Happens Next
Almendarez says he intends to file a lawsuit over the incident.