Long Beach residents gathered outside city hall Tuesday evening to demand transparency after immigration agents detained a man whose family says is a U.S. citizen.
Video of Ricardo Gonzalez’s arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents circulated online, prompting community members and local leaders to denounce the detention and demand accountability.
It’s unclear what led up to the arrest but the footage shows Gonzalez on the ground as four federal agents surround him. He can be heard pleading for help and telling the agents that they broke his arm.
Demonstrators gathered outside Long Beach City Hall in opposition of the arrest.
“We’re out here protesting the brutal arrest of Ricardo Gonzalez, who’s arrested in North Long Beach and his arm was broken,” said Romina Killpact Santos, a protester. “He was treated very brutally.”
Rep. Robert Garcia said Gonzalez is a U.S. citizen and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said Gonzalez is a former city employee.
The detention happened Saturday afternoon during what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said was a targeted enforcement operation. Another video that was recorded just moments before the detention appears to show Gonzalez on an e-bike rounding a corner before encountering an unmarked SUV.
DHS said federal agents were confronted by “anti-ICE agitators” and described Gonzalez as a “rioter.” The department also alleged that a government vehicle was obstructed.
“ICE did not hit an individual on a bike,” DHS said in a statement. “An individual was arrested after he smashed the mirror of a government vehicle.”
The Long Beach Police Department said Gonzalez was taken to a hospital and was not arrested by its department. Gonzalez’s family says he is recovering from his injuries.
