A U.S. citizen was hospitalized over the weekend in Long Beach, California, following a confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to the man's family and local officials. The incident, which occurred Saturday, resulted in the man being handcuffed and pinned to the ground, prompting a police response after ICE requested backup.
Ricardo Gonzalez, who was riding an electric bike at the time, allegedly was struck by an unmarked vehicle operated by ICE officers, according to a statement from his daughter, Leslie Gonzalez. She confirmed her father’s U.S. citizenship but declined to provide further details, citing concerns for her family’s safety. Social media posts show Mr. Gonzalez immobilized on his stomach with officers wearing ICE vests restraining him while he calls out for medical help and states that his arm is broken.
The Long Beach Police Department said officers arrived after ICE reported vandalism to vehicles and a person needing medical attention. Police clarified they did not make any arrests or participate in immigration enforcement at the scene. The officers transported a bleeding, handcuffed individual to a nearby fire station, where his handcuffs were removed before he was taken to a hospital. The police department declined further comment and referred inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security, which did not immediately respond.
Videos circulating on social media depict a chaotic scene with bystanders shouting at law enforcement. One video shows a woman being handcuffed by ICE officers and placed in a vehicle. A man in the video identifies her as his wife and asserts that she is also a U.S. citizen. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said he spoke with Mr. Gonzalez on Sunday but did not have information about the other woman. Mr. Gonzalez reportedly called 911 during the incident, though the mayor had no details on the events leading up to the altercation.
This case is the latest in a series of mistaken detentions involving U.S. citizens by ICE amid a rise in the agency’s arrest numbers nationwide. Recent reports have highlighted that hundreds of U.S. citizens have been inadvertently caught up in federal immigration operations. Similar incidents have occurred in other parts of the country, including a September case near Chicago where a U.S. citizen sustained injuries during an encounter with ICE agents.
Despite Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s statements emphasizing that ICE is focusing on those with significant criminal histories, recent months have seen an increase in arrests of individuals without criminal records, raising concerns about the agency’s enforcement practices.