ICE Shoots Man in California Who Denies Gang Ties, Raises Questions About Enforcement Tactics

Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, a 36-year-old man shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a patrol stop in Patterson, California, denies being a gang member despite ICE claims. His attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, revealed that Mendoza is recovering from three surgeries after multiple gunshot wounds and insists his client has no criminal record in the United States and was acquitted of murder charges in El Salvador.

Federal prosecutors have reportedly informed Kolasinski that Mendoza is not under arrest, raising serious questions about why ICE targeted him with such force. The agency’s online detainee locator shows no record of Mendoza being held, and the Department of Homeland Security has not responded to inquiries about the incident.

According to ICE officials, agents fired in self-defense after Mendoza allegedly tried to drive into them following a traffic stop. They described Mendoza as a suspected gang member sought for questioning in connection to a murder in El Salvador. However, court documents from El Salvador obtained by Mendoza’s attorney show he was acquitted of murder and do not indicate any gang affiliation.

Dashcam footage from the incident shows ICE officers surrounding Mendoza’s vehicle with weapons drawn as he attempts to back away and then drives forward, striking a vehicle and crossing a median. The video lacks audio, leaving key details about the timing of the shots and communication unclear.

Kolasinski stated that Mendoza fled in panic when shot at, fearing for his life rather than trying to harm anyone. He also noted that Mendoza works repairing fire damage, has a 2-year-old daughter, and is engaged to a U.S. citizen. Mendoza holds dual citizenship in El Salvador and Mexico and came to the U.S. in 2019, though his legal status is unknown.

The FBI is now leading the investigation into the shooting, with ICE reportedly no longer involved. The Department of Justice referred questions to the FBI, which declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

This shooting adds to a troubling pattern of ICE’s aggressive enforcement under the Trump administration, where questions about the justification and proportionality of force continue to mount. With federal authorities offering little clarity and the victim’s innocence of gang ties, the case demands close scrutiny and accountability.