The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) announced plans to file a $1 million lawsuit on behalf of Job Garcia, a U.S. citizen detained in Los Angeles. The incident occurred after Garcia, a 37-year-old Ph.D. student and photographer, recorded an immigration raid at a Home Depot store.
According to MALDEF, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents forcibly detained Garcia, throwing him to the ground and kneeling on his back and neck. Garcia was recording the raid and advising a truck driver not to exit his vehicle or answer questions from law enforcement. He was held in custody for over 24 hours.
Garcia stated, “Border Patrol and ICE punished me for informing others of their rights and for exercising my own rights.” He claimed that agents did not warn him to stop recording before arresting him. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin countered that Garcia assaulted and verbally harassed a Border Patrol agent, leading to his arrest for assault on a federal agent.
MALDEF alleges that Garcia’s arrest was racially motivated and lacked legal authority, violating his constitutional rights, including free speech and protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Ernest Herrera, MALDEF Western Regional Counsel, stated, “Border Patrol and ICE punished Job Garcia simply for exercising his right to record a discriminatory immigration raid.”
The lawsuit highlights potential violations of Garcia’s rights under the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments. His attorneys argue that he suffered economic losses and personal injury due to the incident.
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