A 23-year-old man from Los Angeles, Fernando Diaz, was arrested this week in Huntington Park after allegedly attempting to impersonate a federal immigration agent. The arrest occurred during a time of heightened anxiety regarding immigration enforcement activities across Southern California.
Authorities reported that Diaz was found with an unlicensed handgun and three handheld radios in his car, which featured law enforcement-style red and blue lights concealed under its visors. Initially, police officers were drawn to Diaz’s unmarked Dodge Durango parked unlawfully in a handicapped space without a proper placard.
Upon running the vehicle’s license plate, officers discovered that it was not registered to any law enforcement agency. During the investigation, Diaz claimed he was employed as a security guard and had previously worked with Customs and Border Protection, but he failed to provide any legitimate identifying information, according to Huntington Park Police Chief Cosme Lozano.
In a statement at a Friday news conference, Chief Lozano revealed that Diaz possessed a sheet of radio codes associated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, multiple copies of passports not belonging to him, and other items suggestive of criminal activity.
Diaz was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for DUI, and although he had a previous arrest related to human smuggling, he was not convicted, as noted by city officials. The LAist has reached out to the county District Attorney’s Office to obtain any further information regarding potential charges against Diaz. An update is anticipated once a response is received.
The Huntington Park community is already grappling with fears as masked agents reportedly conduct immigration raids in unmarked vehicles throughout the Los Angeles area. Mayor Arturo Flores highlighted this concern, stating that the presence of law enforcement-style equipment without verified authority could greatly undermine public safety.
“When people cannot trust who is enforcing the law, public safety is undermined and fear begins to take hold,” Flores said. He emphasized the need to prevent impersonators from intimidating and exploiting the community.
In response to the growing concerns about safety and trust, the Huntington Park City Council has passed a resolution mandating police to verify the identity of any individuals claiming to be federal immigration agents in the city. Mayor Flores clarified that the city is not attempting to obstruct legitimate federal operations but rather insisting that anyone acting in a federal capacity must produce proper identification.
He asserted, “Do not hide behind unmarked vehicles and face masks.” The Mayor and other city leaders have long aimed to build trust with immigrant communities. However, the current operations conducted by ICE are seen as threatening this progress.
Flores advocated for a more respectful approach to law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of actions that do not generate fear in neighborhoods or blur the line between lawful enforcement and intimidation.
The resolution passed by the city also condemns the use of unmarked vehicles and masked agents in immigration enforcement activities. It stresses that such tactics are detrimental to public trust and community safety, as well as constitutional protections.
In conjunction with local efforts, a new California bill dubbed the “No Vigilantes Act” is being introduced, which would enforce stricter identification requirements for law enforcement officers in the state. Specifically, the legislation would mandate that all officers display their identifying information, like name or badge number, and it would prohibit bounty hunters from taking part in immigration enforcement activities.
image source from：laist
