The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Monday, August 18, that a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent opened fire on a vehicle during an immigration raid last Saturday in the Southern California city of San Bernardino.
According to a DHS spokesperson, the shooting was “in self-defense” after the driver of the vehicle allegedly ran over two officers.
Immigration agent shoots at car
Insane…Trump’s masked ICE Nazis attempted to kidnap a family in San Bernardino without identifying themselves….smashed their windows and shot at the car when the family took off scared like any other person would do if masked thugs rolled up with no IDs pic.twitter.com/emnCMMt2PJ
– Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) August 17, 2025
According to the official version, the event occurred during a selective police operation against immigration targets.
The DHS spokesman claimed that the vehicle was intentionally launched at the officers, which he called “a violent act that forced a CBP agent to fire his weapon to protect himself.”
However, the version given by the occupants of the van – all Hispanics – contradicts what the authorities have said.
In several videos recorded from inside the vehicle, hooded agents can be seen surrounding the van and demanding that the driver open the door without showing any warrant.
Upon refusal, one of the agents breaks the driver’s side windows.
At that moment, the driver started the van to try to leave the place and at least three gunshots were heard.
The family denies having attempted to run over the agents.
#ice la pelaron 🍌Los putitos #SanBernardino pic.twitter.com/PeZhSmWIpy
– Laber Galarga (@LaberGalarga) August 17, 2025
Buzzy
According to Javier Hernandez, director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ), the driver – an immigrant who has lived in the United States for more than 23 years – acted out of fear, thinking that his life and that of his son and son-in-law were in danger.
The 18-year-old son, a U.S. citizen, was in the front passenger seat, while the 23-year-old son-in-law was in the back seat.
The family reported the incident of an immigration agent shoots at a car to the San Bernardino Police, who responded to the scene but did not proceed to arrest the driver.
Hours later, both DHS and police agents surrounded the family home and remained there for several hours, despite not having a warrant, ICIJ said in a statement.
The organization called what happened an “abuse of power” and called for an independent investigation.
For its part, the DHS criticized the actions of the San Bernardino Police and noted that California’s sanctuary laws prevented the driver from being detained after the incident.
This case comes just two days after the death of Guatemalan day laborer Carlos Roberto Montoya, who was struck by a vehicle while fleeing an ICE raid at a Home Depot store in Monrovia, also in Southern California.
According to a DHS spokesperson, the shooting occurred “in self-defense,” after the driver of the vehicle allegedly ran over two officers
QueOnnda.com
