SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California judge has ordered Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, who was shot multiple times during an arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, to remain in custody after ruling he poses a flight risk. Mendoza, a 36-year-old man with dual citizenship in El Salvador and Mexico, faces charges of assaulting a federal officer. This stems from an incident in Patterson on April 7, where he allegedly struck an ICE agent with his vehicle.
His attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, argues that Mendoza acted out of panic and did not intend to harm the officers. Furthermore, Kolasinski disputed the assertion that Mendoza was a suspected gang member associated with a murder investigation in El Salvador, citing court documents that show Mendoza was acquitted of murder.
Following the arrest, Mendoza underwent multiple surgeries for the significant gunshot wounds he sustained. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the ICE officers fired shots at him in self-defense after he attempted to drive into them while they were conducting an enforcement stop.
The ongoing legal case is part of a broader trend of shootings involving ICE agents during heightened immigration enforcement actions. Critics question the actions and protocols of ICE, suggesting they are part of a troubling narrative concerning the treatment of immigrants.
Mendoza’s next court appearance is scheduled for early May, as public scrutiny continues regarding law enforcement’s use of force in such situations and the facts surrounding immigration enforcement practices.
