A man who was shot by U.S. immigration officers in California has now been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after being discharged from the hospital. The incident has raised serious questions about how the case is being handled and whether proper procedures were followed.
What Happened in California
The man, Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, was shot during an operation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in central California last week.
According to officials, officers stopped his car in Patterson, a city near San Francisco, and claimed that he tried to drive into them. They said the agents fired their weapons in self-defence during the encounter.
However, his lawyer has strongly challenged this version of events and said the situation was handled very differently from what authorities are claiming.
Hospital Treatment and Sudden Arrest
After the shooting, Mendoza suffered multiple gunshot wounds and had to undergo three surgeries. His lawyer, Patrick Kolasinski, explained that his client was still in a serious condition and not fully recovered. Despite this, Mendoza was discharged from the hospital and immediately taken into custody by the FBI.
What has shocked his legal team is that neither his family nor his lawyer was informed before this happened. According to Kolasinski, Mendoza was still in pain and not physically ready to leave medical care, making the situation even more concerning.
Unclear Charges and Legal Concerns
At this point, federal authorities have not clearly explained what charges Mendoza may face. This lack of clarity has created confusion and concern, especially because his legal team was not properly informed about his arrest.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have also not responded to questions raised by his lawyer. This silence has only increased doubts about transparency and due process in the case.
Dispute Over His Background
Authorities have described Mendoza as a suspected gang member who is wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection with a murder case. However, his lawyer has firmly denied these claims. He stated that Mendoza has no criminal record in the United States and was already cleared in a murder case in El Salvador.
Court documents from that case show that he was acquitted and released. There is also no mention of him being involved in any gang activity, which contradicts the claims made by officials.
What the Video Shows
A dashcam video of the incident has also come out, giving some visual insight into what happened. The footage shows officers standing around Mendoza’s car during the stop. At one point, the car appears to reverse and hit another vehicle behind it.
The officers are then seen pointing their guns at the car. The vehicle then moves forward and turns sharply, crossing over the road divider.
However, the video does not have any sound, so it is not clear what was said or exactly when the shots were fired. This missing detail makes it difficult to fully understand the sequence of events.
Personal Life and Current Situation
Mendoza is a dual citizen of El Salvador and Mexico and came to the United States in 2019. According to his lawyer, he works as a labourer, mainly repairing fire-damaged properties. He also has a two-year-old daughter and is engaged to a U.S. citizen.
His fiancée recently visited him in the hospital and said he was still in significant pain just before he was taken into custody. This has raised further concern about whether he received proper care before his arrest.
This case has brought up serious concerns about law enforcement actions, especially regarding the use of force and treatment of injured individuals. While officials maintain that the shooting was done in self-defence, Mendoza’s lawyer argues that the situation was mishandled and lacks transparency.
The absence of clear charges and conflicting accounts has made the case more complicated. As investigations continue, it will be important to closely examine the facts and ensure that legal rights and procedures are properly followed. The outcome of this case could have wider implications for how similar situations are handled in the future.
