A Los Angeles man has been arrested on suspicion of impersonating a federal immigration agent in Huntington Park, authorities announced on Friday.
On Tuesday, June 24, Huntington Park police officers located a suspicious black Dodge Durango illegally parked in a handicap zone in the 7000 block of South Alameda Street, city officials said.
The vehicle had mounted red and blue LED lights, police-like radios, and a semi-automatic firearm magazine, officers observed. The driver, 24-year-old Fernando Diaz, returned to his vehicle, approached officers, and tried to play off their findings by saying he was a former Customs and Border Protection agent, Chief Cosme Lozano said.
Upon further inspection, officers said, they discovered the following items in Diaz’s vehicle, which were displayed at a Friday news conference: an official-looking documents with the labels “Homeland Security Investigations” and “Customs and Border Protection”; a sheet with Border Patrol radio codes, at least two copies of passports that don’t belong to Diaz, and multiple cellphones.
Officers said he failed to provide any valid credentials.
The officers discovered that Diaz has an outstanding DUI warrant and was taken into custody.
“This arrest raises concerns about public safety, organized criminal activity, and the urgent need for all enforcement personnel operating in our community to properly identify themselves,” Lozano said. “What began as a routine citation has quickly turned into a far more disturbing investigation.”
The arrest came amid immigration enforcement sweeps across Southern California, typically by armed federal agents wearing face-covering masks and civilian clothing, and reportedly producing no badges or identification. They generally wear vests that say “ICE,” “Border Patrol” or “Homeland Security.”
Federal officials say the agents wear masks to protect themselves and their families from attacks by protesters. But critics have said hiding their identities makes it easy for imposters.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more.
Immigration arrests by ‘masked and unidentified individuals … are abductions,’ says Huntington Park mayor
Originally Published:
