LONG BEACH (CNS) – Four Southern California lawmakers called Wednesday for an independent federal investigation into an encounter between immigration agents and a Long Beach resident who suffered injuries during his detention, demanding answers about the agents’ use of force and whether the man’s civil rights were violated.
Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-San Pedro, joined Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, both D-California, and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari seeking an investigation into the Oct. 17 incident involving Ricardo Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen.
The lawmakers said Gonzalez was reportedly struck by an unmarked federal vehicle Saturday while riding an electric bicycle in North Long Beach, repeatedly subjected to a Taser and left with a broken arm.
Federal officials have disputed the allegation that agents struck Gonzalez with a vehicle, saying he was arrested after damaging a government vehicle.
“ICE agents are not above the law. These ICE agents appear to be going after someone in North Long Beach simply for being Latino. We need an independent investigation, immediate accountability, and answers for the people of Long Beach,” Barragán said in a statement Wednesday.
The incident occurred near 56th Street and Elm Avenue, where video circulated by the advocacy group StopICE.net showed masked federal agents restraining Gonzalez on the ground as he repeatedly cried out for help. In the video, Gonzalez can be heard saying his arm was broken.
According to the lawmakers’ letter, surveillance footage appears to show an unmarked federal vehicle striking Gonzalez before agents restrained him.
The lawmakers also alleged that agents failed to provide appropriate medical assistance despite his apparent injuries.
Long Beach police said officers responding to the scene found Gonzalez handcuffed and bleeding while being detained by federal immigration agents. Police said officers took Gonzalez to a nearby fire station, where his handcuffs were removed, before firefighters transported him to a hospital for treatment, according to ABC News.
The Long Beach Police Department said its officers were not involved in immigration enforcement and made no arrests.
A DHS spokesperson disputed allegations of excessive force, telling ABC News that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers “followed their training and used the minimum amount of force” during the encounter.
DHS also denied that agents struck a person riding a bicycle.
“An individual was arrested after he smashed the mirror of a government vehicle,” DHS said in a statement Tuesday, adding that federal authorities were investigating potential charges involving damage to a government vehicle.
The congressional letter follows a request by Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson for an independent investigation into the encounter.
Barragán, Schiff, Padilla and Garcia asked the DHS inspector general to examine whether agents’ actions complied with federal law, including the justification for each use of force and whether Gonzalez received appropriate medical attention.
The lawmakers also want investigators to determine whether other residents were stopped, detained or subjected to force during the broader immigration enforcement operation and whether racial profiling or other improper considerations played a role.
They called for the agents involved to be removed from field enforcement duties while the investigation proceeds.
The letter also requests preservation of body-camera footage, surveillance recordings, vehicle recordings, Taser records, operational plans, incident reports and communications among agents and supervisors.
The lawmakers asked that any potential civil rights violations or criminal misconduct be referred to the Department of Justice.
They further requested that DHS publicly release investigative findings and information about any substantiated violations or disciplinary action to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The letter seeks written acknowledgment from the inspector general within 48 hours and an outline of investigative steps and interim actions within seven days.
It was not immediately clear whether the inspector general had responded to the lawmakers’ request.