ICE Agents Sued Over Arrests and Beatings in California

ICE Abuse Lawsuits Filed

Racial Profiling Alleged

Raids Reach the Courts

Andrea Vélez, Ángel Pinal, Cary López, Javier Ramírez, Juan José Gutiérrez, and Joel Acuña sued the U.S. government over alleged civil rights violations during immigration raids carried out last year.

Why it matters: The lawsuits seek financial compensation for damages caused during immigration operations tied to the mass deportation campaign promoted by President Donald Trump.

The cases were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Attorney Luis Carrillo said Wednesday during a press conference that the plaintiffs were wrongfully detained.

ICE Faces Lawsuit Over Raids Against Citizens

ICE Lawsuit in California Over Arrests and Beatings. Photo ChatGPT

He also said some were beaten by agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, known as CBP, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE.

The incidents occurred during immigration operations carried out in June and July 2025, according to El Diario NY.

Carrillo told EFE that the actions of immigration agents “were brutal.”

He also said they hope the lawsuits will help stop the excessive use of force.

The lawsuits were filed separately.

The plaintiffs had previously filed a federal tort claim.

That procedure is a necessary legal step before formally filing a lawsuit against the federal government.

U.S. Citizens Describe Unjustified Arrests

Andrea Vélez said she was wrongfully arrested during an ICE raid in downtown Los Angeles.

According to the complaint, she was detained while on her way to work.

Vélez spent two nights in jail. She also faced a felony charge.

The Department of Justice later dismissed that charge.

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A video showed the moment of the arrest.

In the footage, the violence of the arrest can be seen as Vélez’s mother watched the scene without being able to intervene.

Attorney Michael Carrillo said the plaintiffs were victims of racial profiling.

According to him, ICE and Border Patrol agents acted against Hispanic people in several communities across Southern California.

“The plaintiffs were subjected to racial profiling,” Carrillo said.

Detentions Reported Despite Proof of Citizenship

Cary López said she was detained while pregnant.

According to her account, she was arrested along with the father of her child and another relative.

The woman said she repeatedly told agents that she was a U.S. citizen.

Even so, she was held during the operation.

López claims her baby was born prematurely because of the detention.

The complaints also include the case of Juan José Gutiérrez.

The immigrant rights advocate was detained last November at Los Angeles International Airport.

Gutiérrez was returning from Mexico when he was held by CBP agents.

According to the complaint, he had documents proving his U.S. citizenship.

Even so, he was handcuffed to a table for more than three hours.

The attorneys believe these cases show abuses committed during immigration operations.

The ICE lawsuit in California seeks to hold the federal government accountable for the actions of the agents involved.