Following a contentious encounter in South Los Angeles, a local couple has been arrested and now faces federal charges for their alleged actions against immigration agents. Gustavo Torres, 28, and Kiara Jaime-Flores, 34, are accused of using their vehicle to interfere with agents during an operation on February 28. KTLA reports that the pair is charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers, with each facing up to six years in prison if convicted.
In response to the agents serving search warrants in Los Angeles, aerial footage captured a scene of protest. According to CBS News, the Department of Justice alleged that the couple used their car to chase and deliberately block immigration agents. During an interview outlined in court documents, Torres explained, "If it was immigration, they were taking someone's family member unjustified. Well, me and my girlfriend, the first instinct was, well, to block the cars."
Advocates for immigrant rights have spoken out against these arrests, labeling them as intimidation tactics. Ron Gochez, a member of the Union del Barrio and a high school teacher, argued in a statement obtained by CBS News, "We know that throughout the history of this country anyone that has stood up for racial justice, social justice has been a target." Gochez asserted the group's commitment to acting within legal bounds, stating, "We do not impede. We do not obstruct." Gochez added, "We do everything legally but its not above the Trump administration to lie."
In contrast, United States Attorney Bill Essayli accused the couple of "knowingly and recklessly putting federal agents’ lives in danger." In a press release on the Department of Justice's website, he firmly asserted that those who get in the way of immigration officers performing their duties will readily face criminal prosecution. This case continues to develop as Homeland Security Investigations lead the ongoing investigation into the incident. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Tako is prosecuting the case, with the defendants having made their initial appearances in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
