Published

USA07 April, 20261 min read

ICE Agents Shoot Man During Arrest in California; Family Denies Gang Ties

ICE shot a man during a targeted vehicle stop near Patterson along I-5. The suspect was identified as Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, alleged 18th Street Gang member.

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ICE Agents Shoot Man During Arrest in California; Family Denies Gang Ties
Image: WKBW

Shooting at Vehicle Stop

ICE agents shot Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez during a targeted vehicle stop in Patterson, California. Agents say he weaponized his vehicle to try to run over an officer. Dashcam footage captured the moments agents surrounded the sedan which then fled.

Mendoza's family and attorney deny he is a gang member. The FBI is leading the investigation. This is the seventh ICE or CBP shooting since January 7, 2026.

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Image: ABC News
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Incident Details and Divergent Accounts

The dashcam showed the sedan reversing with its door open, striking a truck. The car then jumped a concrete median into opposite traffic. ICE described this as an attempt to run over officers.

A policing expert questioned whether the vehicle posed an immediate threat. The FBI and local sheriff's office are investigating. The diverging narratives highlight escalating tensions.

Image from ABC30 Fresno
Image: ABC30 Fresno
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Legal and Human Rights Questions

This shooting adds to a controversial pattern of ICE and CBP agents using lethal force during arrests. Since January, six ICE or CBP shootings have resulted in five civilian deaths. DHS reported more than 180 vehicle attacks against its personnel since March 2025.

Critics argue agencies have too often resorted to force without clear justification. Congressional Democrats have demanded briefings on the constitutional basis for strikes.