Federal Charges Filed Against Man Shot by ICE Agents During California Raid
Federal prosecutors have announced charges against a man who was shot multiple times by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an arrest earlier this month in California. Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, is accused of assaulting a federal officer with his vehicle, according to officials.
Details of the Incident and Charges
The Department of Homeland Security stated that ICE agents were conducting an enforcement stop on April 7 in Patterson, a city approximately 75 miles southeast of San Francisco. They targeted Mendoza, whom officials described as a suspected gang member wanted for questioning in El Salvador related to a killing. DHS claims that agents fired defensive shots after Mendoza attempted to drive into them.
Federal prosecutors allege that Mendoza drove his car forward, striking an agent, before reversing into a law enforcement vehicle after being pulled over. If convicted, he could face significant penalties under federal law.
Defense Claims and Disputes Over Background
Mendoza's lawyer, Patrick Kolasinski, has strongly contested the official narrative. He asserts that his client panicked and tried to flee when ICE agents blocked his car, and that agents fired on Mendoza while the vehicle was stopped, prompting him to drive away to escape the gunfire. Kolasinski emphasized, "He is doing everything he can to not run them over," regarding Mendoza's actions during the stop.
Kolasinski also disputes DHS claims about Mendoza's background. He stated that Mendoza, a dual citizen of El Salvador and Mexico, is engaged to a U.S. citizen, works as a laborer, and is the father of a 2-year-old daughter. The lawyer said Mendoza has no criminal record in the U.S. and is not subject to an arrest warrant in El Salvador, where he was acquitted of murder in 2019. A court document from El Salvador dated October 25, 2019, confirms his acquittal and immediate release, with no mention of gang affiliation.
Video Evidence and Aftermath
Dashcam footage obtained by KCRA-TV shows three officers around a stopped vehicle on a roadside. One officer appears to touch the driver's side window before the car backs up, turns, and hits a vehicle behind it. At least two agents have weapons drawn and pointed at the car. The driver then pulls forward, turns sharply, and drives over the roadway median. The video lacks sound, leaving it unclear when shots were fired or if any words were exchanged.
Mendoza underwent three surgeries for multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the jaw that has left him with difficulty speaking. His fiancée visited him in the hospital over the weekend, and he remains in significant pain, according to Kolasinski. Mendoza insists he was never a gang member.
Broader Context and Official Silence
This encounter occurred amid a series of shootings during the Trump administration's aggressive efforts to detain and deport immigrants in the country illegally, raising ongoing questions about federal immigration enforcement practices. Neither DHS nor ICE has responded to Associated Press requests for comment on Kolasinski's claims. The lawyer has vowed to fight the allegations, stating, "We are prepared to fight them."
Federal officials maintain that Mendoza is in the U.S. illegally, having arrived in 2019, though Kolasinski said he does not know his client's legal status or how he entered the country. The case highlights tensions between immigration enforcement actions and legal defenses in high-stakes encounters.
