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ICE agents detain US Citizen in Simi Valley
ICE agents detained Rodrigo Almendarez, a U.S. citizen, outside his job in Simi Valley. Almendarez said the agents didn't identify themselves before they rushed in and grabbed him.
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - A routine work day turned into a shocking encounter for a US citizen as federal immigration agents handcuffed him outside his job in Simi Valley.
What they're saying:
"They just got me by surprise. I didn't know what was going on, who they were. What did I do wrong. They never told me who they were or who they were looking for or anything," Rodrigo Almendarez told FOX 11.
He said federal agents let him go only after seeing his ID and hearing his coworker yell.
Almendarez was born in Canoga Park and works as a driver for JB Wholesale Roofing and Building Supplies.
He said agents targeted him because of his appearance.
"I am dark skin, I am Mexican, I am brown. It makes me mad. Really mad. Like I said, I'm American. You know, my background is Mexican, but I was born in this country. They would have got off and asked me, ‘hey, sir, we have a question’. I could have answered, but they didn't. They profiled me, just tried to grab me like if I was a criminal," Almendarez explained.
Agents moved so fast to detain Almendarez that they left their SUV in drive. Security footage shows the vehicle rolling forward as an agent then runs after it. The impact shattered the passenger side mirror.
Employees who witnessed the ordeal still can't believe what happened.
Almendarez said he plans on filing a lawsuit.
What we don't know:
FOX 11 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security but have yet to hear back.
The Source: Information for this story came from an interview with Rodrigo Almendarez. Surveillance video was also provided to FOX 11.