Archive · 6 Nov 2025
US Citizen Arrested, Toddler Driven Away by Agents in LA Raid
Imagine some police officers were doing a job outside a store, and they arrested a man who they said was acting aggressively.
This man was a U.S. citizen.
After they arrested him, two of the officers got into his car and drove away, and his one-year-old baby was in the back seat!
People watching were very worried and yelled that there was a baby in the car.
The officers took the baby to a government office, and the baby's family was able to pick her up.
Some people think the officers shouldn't have driven the car with the baby, but others think they might have done it to keep the baby safe.
The police said the man had a weapon and was being arrested for hurting someone, and they also found a gun in his car.
They also arrested five other people for immigration reasons.
Federal immigration officers arrested a U.S. citizen father outside a Los Angeles Home Depot.
After the arrest, two masked agents drove away in the man's car with his 1-year-old daughter in the back seat.
Video footage and witness accounts show public concern as agents drove off with the child.
The man's family, including his mother and child, are U.S. citizens.
Homeland Security stated the man was arrested for assault for allegedly wielding a hammer and throwing rocks, and a stolen pistol was found in his car.
- Who
- Federal immigration officers, Border Patrol agents, a U.S. citizen father, his 1-year-old daughter, immigrant advocacy groups, and the man's family.
- What
- Federal immigration officers arrested a U.S. citizen during a raid and then drove away in his car with his toddler daughter inside, leading to public outcry and questions about protocol. Five immigrants were also arrested for immigration violations during the operation.
- When
- Wednesday (reporting of the incident), Tuesday (family notified to pick up the child).
- Where
- Outside a Home Depot store in Los Angeles.
- Why
- The U.S. citizen was arrested for investigation of assault, accused of wielding a hammer and throwing rocks during the raid. The reason agents drove the car with the child inside remains officially unexplained, though an expert suggested it was for safety. The other five arrests were on suspicion of immigration violations.
Critics of the Action
Supporters of the Action
Child Safety and Protocol
Critics of the Action
Critics, including an immigrant advocacy coalition and the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, decried the action as dangerous, arguing that armed men should not have driven away with the child and that protocols should have prioritized the child's best interest.
Supporters of the Action
An expert on police practices suggested that given the circumstances of onlookers filming and the potential dangers, officers likely made the best decision to remove the vehicle and child from the situation to safety.
Justification for Agent Involvement with Child
Critics of the Action
The man's family, including his mother, expressed fear and distress, questioning the identity and actions of the agents and emphasizing that the arrested man and his daughter are US citizens.
Supporters of the Action
Homeland Security stated that the US citizen man wielded a hammer and threw rocks, leading to his arrest for assault, and a stolen pistol was found in his car, implying the arrest was justified.
- Location of Raid
- Outside a Home Depot store in Los Angeles
- Date of Incident
- Wednesday (advocates reporting), Tuesday (family notified)
- Agencies Involved
- Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol agents
- Reason for US Citizen's Arrest
- Investigation of assault; accused of wielding a hammer and throwing rocks
- Items Found in US Citizen's Car
- A stolen pistol (reported out of New York)
- Individuals Arrested for Immigration Violations
- Five immigrants
- Child's Current Status
- Picked up by relatives from federal offices; reported to be fine but asking for her father
