Brian Gavidia, a 29-year-old car repairman from East Los Angeles, found himself in a frightening situation when immigration agents confronted him outside his workplace on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on West Olympic Boulevard in Montebello, where Gavidia was approached by agents wearing vests marked “Border Patrol Federal Agent.”
Gavidia stepped outside after hearing that immigration agents were nearby. He was quickly stopped by one of the agents, who questioned his citizenship. Despite repeatedly stating, “I’m an American citizen,” Gavidia was pushed against a metal gate. The agent demanded to know where he was born, and when Gavidia struggled to recall the name of the hospital, he felt his arm being twisted.
In a video recorded by a friend, Gavidia can be heard expressing his frustration, saying, “I’m American, bro!” as the agent continued to press for information. His friend, who chose to remain unnamed, pointed out that Gavidia was being questioned solely based on his appearance. “These guys, literally based off of skin color!” he stated, emphasizing that Gavidia was born in the U.S.
Gavidia provided the agent with his Real ID, but it was not returned to him. The agent also took his phone and held onto it for about 20 minutes before giving it back. Even after reviewing his identification, the agent did not apologize for the encounter.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not address the specifics of Gavidia’s situation but mentioned that they were conducting targeted immigration enforcement in support of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the Los Angeles area. They emphasized that enforcing immigration laws is vital for national security and public safety.
The incident left Gavidia shaken, and he expressed anger over the violation of his rights as a citizen. “It was the worst experience I ever felt. I felt honestly like I was going to die,” he said, recalling the moment when an agent racked a chamber in his AR-15.
Gavidia’s mother is Colombian, and his father is Salvadoran, but both are U.S. citizens. He described the encounter as deeply unsettling, particularly as he reflected on the fear many in the Latino community feel amid increasing immigration enforcement actions. “It’s just scary, walking while brown, walking while dirty, coming home from work,” he said, highlighting the anxiety many face about being targeted based on their appearance.
In a related incident, another friend of Gavidia, Javier Ramirez, was arrested that same afternoon under similar circumstances. Ramirez is also an American citizen. His cousin and attorney, Tomas De Jesus, expressed concern that immigration agents entered a private business without a warrant or probable cause. De Jesus stated that Ramirez was accused of resisting arrest and assaulting individuals, but he was unable to speak with his client due to restrictions at the detention center.
Montebello Mayor Salvador Melendez condemned the actions of the immigration agents, calling the situation “extremely frustrating.” He noted that it appeared agents were targeting individuals based on their looks, particularly within the Latino community.
Gavidia is still without his Real ID, as he was told he would need to reapply for a new one after immigration agents took his original. “He took my ticket to freedom,” he lamented, as he continues to grapple with the aftermath of the encounter.