SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A judge on Monday ordered Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez to remain in custody due to concerns that he could be a flight risk. Mendoza was shot multiple times during an arrest by immigration officers in central California, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding ICE operations.
Mendoza, a 36-year-old dual citizen of El Salvador and Mexico, faces charges including assaulting a federal officer. The incident occurred on April 7 when immigration officers attempted to stop him in Patterson, California, approximately 75 miles southeast of San Francisco. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Mendoza allegedly attempted to drive his vehicle into ICE officers, prompting them to respond with defensive gunfire.
His lawyer, Patrick Kolasinski, stated that Mendoza acted out of panic when his car was blocked and did not intend to injure anyone. Mendoza also denies having any links to gangs, disputing claims that he was a suspect wanted in El Salvador for murder, for which he was acquitted.
Mendoza continues to recover from multiple surgeries due to his gunshot wounds. The case adds to a series of controversial incidents involving immigration enforcement that have raised questions about the conduct of federal agents.
The next court hearing for Mendoza is scheduled for early May, as communities continue to scrutinize the actions of ICE and their implications for immigrant rights.
