Federal agents shoot San Bernardino man's car, officials confirm

Incident in San Bernardino: A Conflict Between Federal and Local Authorities

A tense situation unfolded in San Bernardino on Saturday, involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and a local family during an immigration enforcement operation. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a man refused to exit his vehicle during a traffic stop, which led to a confrontation that escalated into gunfire.

The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m., when the man allegedly drove his car at two officers, striking them. In response, the officers fired multiple shots at the vehicle, which had three people inside. No one was injured, but the driver managed to flee the scene.

However, the family inside the vehicle provided a different account of what happened. They described masked agents who did not explain their actions and reportedly hit the driver in the head after breaking a window. Martin, a family member who wished to remain anonymous, shared his experience with CBS News Los Angeles. He was in the back seat, along with his brother-in-law in the passenger seat and his father-in-law, who is an unauthorized immigrant, driving the vehicle.

Martin captured video and photos of the event, which showed bullet holes on the exterior of the car. The footage also revealed an officer shattering the driver’s window and appearing to punch the driver in the face. Martin did not address the claim that the driver struck two officers with his vehicle. While DHS reported that two officers were injured, they did not specify the severity of the injuries.

After the incident, the family returned to their home. Martin's father-in-law contacted the San Bernardino Police Department (SBPD) to report that masked men attempted to pull him over, broke his car window, and shot at him. When SBPD arrived, they found the damaged vehicle and noted that federal immigration officers were already present.

Under California law, local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from assisting federal officials with immigration enforcement due to the California Values Act. As a result, SBPD left the scene while federal authorities conducted their investigation.

According to the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (IC4IJ), federal agents arrived at the home around 11 a.m. and remained outside for several hours, pressuring the individual to come out. They allegedly did not provide a warrant or attempt to communicate with the suspect or his family.

Around 1:15 p.m., SBPD was called back to the home after federal agents requested assistance. They stated that a large crowd had formed outside, creating a potential safety concern for officers. Local law enforcement helped manage the crowd, as they can assist federal officials if officer or public safety is at risk.

“This was not an immigration-related arrest, which would be prohibited under California law,” police said. Agents eventually left the home before 4 p.m.

Martin explained that the man wanted by federal agents is a home and business owner who has lived in the U.S. for more than two decades. “He’s been here for 23 years. He’s always just been a hardworking man,” Martin said. He claimed the man tried many times to obtain a green card but was repeatedly denied.

Despite being briefly detained, the man was not arrested because federal agents lacked a warrant. DHS stated he was released “despite the subject refusing to comply and wounding two officers” due to “California’s pro-sanctuary policies in action that shield criminals instead of protecting communities.”

The IC4IJ claims the man has no criminal record. Martin, however, says his family no longer feels safe. “They’re definitely gonna come back. There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “That’s what they do. Now we’re gonna be looking over our shoulder and fearing for our safety.”