A Van Nuys car wash owner, Rafie Shouhed, has filed a $50 million civil rights claim against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies. The 79-year-old U.S. citizen alleges he was violently injured during an immigration raid at his business, Valley Car Wash, on September 9.
According to Shouhed, masked agents stormed his business and body-slammed him to the ground when he attempted to inquire about their actions. Surveillance footage supports his claims, showing agents pushing him down inside the car wash. Shouhed’s attorneys state that he was taken to a detention center and held for nearly 12 hours without medical care, despite informing agents of his recent heart surgery and difficulty breathing.
Shouhed was eventually released without charges, but only after suffering broken ribs, elbow injuries, contusions, and a traumatic brain injury. His attorney, V. James DeSimone, criticized the agents’ actions, stating, “These masked agents’ conduct was lawless, reckless, and cruel.”
The raid at Valley Car Wash is part of a series of federal operations targeting car washes in the Los Angeles area, with over 80 businesses raided since the summer. Activist groups have responded by forming a car wash protection unit, urging community members to document federal agents during arrests to ensure accountability.
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