Early Friday morning in Huntington Park, a federal raid conducted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents resulted in the dramatic arrest of Jorge Sierra-Hernandez, who was not at home at the time but later turned himself in and was released on bail, as reported by KABC. Sierra-Hernandez allegedly rammed his car into a Border Patrol vehicle during a previous operation in Bell, which prompted this action by federal agents.
The agents, as described by FOX 11, arrived at Sierra-Hernandez's home near Salt Lake Park around 6 a.m., using explosives to breach the door and a window, inside was Jenny Ramirez, Sierra-Hernandez's girlfriend, who recounted her terror as a drone flew through their house searching room by room while she and her two children were present, the agents had heavy gear and they had an armored vehicle, drones, and a K9 unit on hand which escalated the situation.
Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores has since condemned the forceful tactics used in the raid, emphasizing the potential psychological impact on the children involved, as they were shaken with fear during the encounter according to statements by Flores and Ramirez in interviews with KABC.
A friend of the couple, identified as Marissa in a statement to CBS News Los Angeles, described the collision that led to the arrest as "an accident," noting that the family was attempting to leave the area because of a raid when they were "brake-checked by an ICE vehicle," although officials claim that after the crash, a crowd of people assaulted and harassed agents which led to Sierra-Hernandez's arrest, Marissa expressed disbelief and criticism about the methods used during the raid as overbearing considering a woman and children were at home sleeping.
The incident that sparked the raid and subsequent arrest took place on June 20 in Bell, when Sierra-Hernandez was involved in a collision that CBP says caused significant damage to their vehicle and impeded their operation, yet he claims it was an accident during chaotic circumstances as described by Marissa.
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