Federal Agents Arrest Father, Seize Vehicle with Child Inside

Federal immigration agents arrested a man in Los Angeles, taking his vehicle with his one-year-old daughter still inside. The incident took place during a raid at a Home Depot store on March 12, 2024. Family advocates expressed concern over the safety of the child, who was strapped into a car seat as federal agents drove away from the scene.

In footage shared by immigrant advocates, masked agents are seen apprehending the father in a parking lot while the girl remained in the back seat. After the arrest, the agents entered the vehicle and departed with the child still inside. According to Lindsay Toczylowski, co-founder of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, the man, who is a U.S. citizen, was present during a federal immigration operation targeting alleged immigration violations.

Toczylowski highlighted the serious nature of the situation, stating, “It was a dangerous act to have armed men get in a car with that child and remove her from the situation.” She noted that relatives later retrieved the child from federal offices in Los Angeles. “They should have followed protocols that had the best interest of that child in mind,” she added.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the individual was arrested on suspicion of assault for allegedly throwing rocks and wielding a hammer at Border Patrol agents during the raid. The department stated that five immigrants were also apprehended for suspected immigration violations during the operation.

The fate of the father remains uncertain more than 24 hours after the arrest. His mother, identified only as Maria to protect her granddaughter’s identity, reported that she received a call from an unknown number instructing her to pick up the girl from Border Patrol offices. She confirmed that the child is safe but has been asking for her father, who works in the restaurant industry.

“It’s something very frightening,” Maria expressed in Spanish after viewing the video of the incident. “You don’t know who those people are.” She and the child are also U.S. citizens, raising further questions about the handling of the situation by federal agents.

As of now, the Department of Homeland Security has not provided additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s seizure or the current location of the father. Advocates continue to call for clarity and accountability in this troubling case.