Long Beach Mayor Calls for Independent Investigation into ICE Incident
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson in California is demanding an independent investigation into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a video emerged showing federal agents restraining and handcuffing a man, leading to concerns about excessive use of force.
The individual, identified as Ricardo Gonzalez, is a Long Beach resident and former city employee. According to local officials, Gonzalez was injured during the incident, which occurred on Saturday.
In the video, Gonzalez appears to be pinned down in a gutter, loudly asserting that his arm is broken. Mayor Richardson expressed his anger in a formal complaint to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General. He emphasized that having a federal badge does not grant permission to mistreat individuals, ignore constitutional rights, or withhold medical assistance.
Gonzalez informed Mayor Richardson that he is a U.S. citizen, according to the Los Angeles Times.
DHS defended the actions of ICE officers in a statement, stating that the officers adhered to their training and employed the “minimum amount of force.” The agency specified that the operation aimed to arrest an “at-large criminal illegal alien,” disrupted by protestors who attempted to obstruct operations, threatened officers, and damaged government vehicles.
“ICE did NOT hit an individual on a bike. An individual was arrested after he smashed the mirror of a government vehicle. Resisting arrest is dangerous and can result in injury,” the agency stated on X.
DHS mentioned it is investigating possible charges linked to the damage of a government vehicle. Mayor Richardson noted in his complaint that federal agents did not provide Gonzalez with medical attention.
He detailed that during the encounter, Gonzalez reportedly faced repeated use of a Taser, was forcibly restrained, and sustained significant injuries.
In a GoFundMe campaign, Gonzalez’s daughter, Leslie Gonzalez, claimed her father was struck by an unmarked federal vehicle while riding his e-bike on Saturday, subsequently tased twice, and then pinned to the ground. She stated he was hospitalized with serious injuries.
“My Dad is one of the hardest working men out there. Because of him, I have a roof over my head and I have all the opportunities around me,” she wrote. “What ICE did was not right.”
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, representing Long Beach, asserted that ICE agents broke Gonzalez’s arm during the incident.
“ICE agents brutally attacked and broke the arm of a North Long Beach resident and U.S. citizen,” Garcia wrote on X. “The videos are horrific and should concern not just our community but the country.”
The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) stated that federal immigration officials requested emergency assistance on Saturday in response to vehicle vandalism and a medical aid request. When officers arrived, they encountered a large group disturbance involving ICE agents. An officer found a handcuffed man who was bleeding, as per the department’s statement.
The police transported Gonzalez to a nearby fire station, removed his handcuffs, and had fire personnel take him to a hospital. Officers also worked to alleviate the chaos and direct individuals to leave the area. LBPD clarified that their officers did not participate in immigration enforcement and did not make any arrests.