On Wednesday morning, federal immigration agents forcefully detained a 20-year-old U. S. citizen and student at Santa Maria High School who has special needs, according to officials from the school and city.
The student, who has limited verbal communication skills and is part of an individualized education program, was walking to school around 7 a. m. when two agents tackled him from behind, questioned him about his citizenship, and restrained him in their vehicle. He was later released in the area where he was picked up and walked to school, where officials called for an ambulance to take him to the hospital, as stated by Santa Maria City Councilmember Gloria Soto.
The student had surgery for injuries on his wrist, she mentioned, and was left with bruises and cuts.
Soto reported that a school resource officer obtained security footage from a nearby grocery store that confirmed those who detained the student were agents with U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
An unnamed ICE spokesperson said in an email that agents were conducting a targeted enforcement operation in Santa Maria “when they encountered an individual they believed matched the description of the criminal illegal alien target.”
“When the individual resisted officers, refused lawful commands, and assumed a fighting stance with clenched fists, they relied on their training to safely control the situation until they could confirm his identity, whereupon he was released,” the spokesperson wrote.
The spokesperson also claimed that reports stating the student suffered broken bones are incorrect because “he never requested medical assistance.”
Glenn Goldin, a retired special education teacher at Santa Maria High who continues to mentor the detained student, said he spent considerable time helping him gain confidence to walk alone to school. Now he feels anxious about going back.
The student shared with Goldin that he noticed a black car pull up but kept walking. The agents were wearing masks and didn’t identify themselves; however, he saw they had vests labeled “POLICE ICE.” The student mentioned having his Real ID in his wallet but said the agents didn’t ask for it.
“He told them repeatedly that the handcuffs were too tight and they were hurting him,” Goldin stated.
Goldin added that since the student has no family support, he resides in a group home designed for adults with developmental disabilities.
After being released by ICE agents, the student walked to school while crying and in pain. His teacher noticed him and called 911 as per Goldin’s account.
“He was so scared,” Goldin recalled what the student said. “He thought they were going to kill him. He thought he was going to die.”
Soto expressed concerns that it seems like racial profiling occurred against this student. She called for an independent investigation into how ICE’s mistaken identity situation ended up causing harm to this young person.
<p“Our community is living in terror right now and this needs to stop,” she noted while referring to an increase in immigration arrests throughout central California. “I’m a mother, and thinking about my child not being safe walking to school is frightening.”
The Santa Maria Police Department chose not to comment on this matter but directed inquiries towards ICE.
Alma Hernandez, president of Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s board of directors expressed her shock at ICE’s actions.
<p“Our district remains committed to protecting our students and families,” she remarked.
Kenny Klein, spokesperson for the school district stated that ICE detained the student roughly half a mile away from campus.
<p“The student then proceeded to walk to school. School administration called an ambulance after which he received medical care at a hospital,” Klein wrote in his statement while adding parents, guardians, students , and staff were informed about what happened.
Santa Maria police responded promptly notifying relevant agencies including both local district attorney’s office as well as California’s attorney general’s office,” Klein added further explaining details surrounding response protocols concerning this incident.
An advocacy organization known as 805 Undocu Fund shared via Instagram post saying volunteers saw several more community members stopped/questioned by ICE last Wednesday. The group organized protest rally scheduled Saturday supporting affected students’ rights/concerns raised within community surrounding such events.
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