MODESTO, Calif. (AP) — An attorney representing Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, a man shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, has disputed claims by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the incident that occurred during the agency's arrest operation in central California.
DHS reported that ICE agents fired defensive shots at the 36-year-old suspect, alleging he tried to drive into them during an enforcement stop in Patterson, a city located approximately 75 miles southeast of San Francisco. Authorities claim Mendoza is a suspected gang member who is wanted in El Salvador concerning a murder investigation.
However, attorney Patrick Kolasinski, who is defending Mendoza and his family, insisted during a press conference that his client was not attempting to run over officers. He further refuted claims that Mendoza has a criminal record in the U.S. or that there is an active warrant for his arrest in El Salvador, where he was previously acquitted of murder charges.
If he was released after being acquitted, with no other holds on him, he cannot have a warrant, Kolasinski emphasized. So that information must be either erroneous or completely made up. And only DHS knows what they’re looking at. Kolasinski noted he had yet to meet with Mendoza personally but is currently investigating further into his client's background.
On the day of the incident, Mendoza's fiancée, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, expressed concern for her partner, describing him as a hardworking individual. She mentioned that recent enforcement operations targeted him unjustly, hurting families like theirs.
Dashcam footage released by local media shows the moment leading up to the shooting. The footage appears to depict ICE agents approaching Mendoza's vehicle when it suddenly begins to back up and turn, colliding with another vehicle parked behind. As Mendoza's vehicle moves forward, it appears to move toward where the agents are standing, prompting them to draw their weapons. The specifics of when the shots were fired remain unclear.
Kolasinski suggested that Mendoza might have panicked and attempted to flee, claiming he was not intentionally trying to harm the officers. Despite being shot, medical updates on Mendoza remained sparse, with family and legal representatives reportedly denied access to him since his hospitalization.
As the investigation unfolds, questions continue surrounding ICE's operational methods amid heightened scrutiny over immigration enforcement practices under the Trump administration. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they were not involved in the incident, while the FBI has taken over the inquiry.
As a dual citizen of El Salvador and Mexico, Mendoza came to the U.S. in 2019. Kolasinski has expressed concerns regarding the lack of transparency concerning Mendoza’s legal status and the circumstances leading to his current condition.
This incident underscores ongoing debates surrounding immigration enforcement and due process rights, provoking a mix of reactions related to law enforcement's approach to suspects in custody.
