Federal Agent Opens Fire During San Bernardino Operation, DHS Confirms

Federal Agent Fires Shots During Immigration Enforcement in San Bernardino

A federal agent opened fire during a targeted immigration enforcement operation in San Bernardino on Saturday morning, sparking controversy and raising questions about the conduct of law enforcement. The incident unfolded when a family was stopped by masked agents who reportedly did not identify themselves.

Martin, one of the individuals involved, shared his account of the event with Eyewitness News. He explained that he was working alongside his father-in-law and 18-year-old son-in-law when their vehicle was suddenly surrounded by unmarked cars and masked men. According to Martin, the agents emerged with pistols drawn and asked them to lower the window and open the doors. However, they did not reveal their identities.

The family remained inside the locked car as the agents insisted they exit. A video captured the agents shattering two windows before the family attempted to flee. Martin stated that his father-in-law, fearing for his life, drove the vehicle away from the agents. Moments later, three gunshots were heard.

"Thank God the bullets didn't go through the truck. They just went in, got stuck into the door, but they were aimed at my brother-in-law, who was in the passenger front. And so I was just glad he was OK," Martin said.

The family then contacted the San Bernardino police, who arrived at their home. They reported that the FBI would be contacting them, but instead, the situation escalated into an hours-long standoff with multiple federal agencies arriving at their residence. One officer seen pulling out a weapon during the vehicle stop is alleged to have fired the shots.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement claiming that during the vehicle stop, a subject refused to exit his car and tried to run over Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. The agency stated that the individual struck two officers with his vehicle and that one officer had to discharge his firearm in self-defense. However, the video reviewed by Eyewitness News does not show the driver attempting to run over the officers. Additionally, the agency did not provide details about why the driver was stopped or whether the agents had a warrant.

Further information regarding the CBP officers’ injuries has not been released. The DHS statement also criticized California’s pro-sanctuary policies, calling it a tragic example of how such policies shield criminals rather than protect communities.

Community groups are urging accountability following months of immigration raids, some of which have resulted in injuries or deaths. Javier Hernandez, Executive Director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, expressed concerns about the lack of oversight and the potential for abuse of power.

San Bernardino police responded to reports of gunfire at 8:51 a.m. on Acacia Avenue and Baseline Street. Officers spoke with federal agents who claimed they were involved in an officer-involved shooting. Later, the man who was shot at contacted the dispatch center, describing how masked men had tried to pull him over, broken his car window, and shot at him. He stated he did not know who they were and requested police assistance.

Officers located the man's vehicle and made contact, but it was unclear what he was wanted for. Under the California Values Act, local police are prohibited from assisting with immigration enforcement, so they left the scene. However, at 1:12 p.m., federal officials requested help due to a large crowd forming as they attempted to arrest the man. At this point, the police learned he was wanted for assaulting a federal officer.

San Bernardino police returned to the scene to assist with crowd control. The department emphasized that under the California Values Act, local law enforcement may assist with federal arrests if there is a risk to officer or public safety. In this case, the arrest was not related to immigration, making it permissible under state law.