Oxnard Man Released After Being Detained by ICE Agents While Filming Father’s Arrest
Tracy Lehr
OXNARD, Calif. – A U.S. citizen was detained in Oxnard after recording video of federal immigration agents arresting his father during a recent ICE operation.
Juan Ramirez Diaz, who lives in Oxnard with his wife and two children, was taken into custody around noon Monday in an industrial area near Pacific Avenue. According to his family, Ramirez Diaz was filming as ICE agents detained his father, who is not a U.S. citizen, when he was tased and taken as well. His wife later shared the video on social media and filed a missing persons report with Oxnard police after he failed to return home.
“My husband is a U.S. citizen, he never should have been taken,” said Monique Ramirez. The family’s attorney said Diaz was “attacked by these ICE agents, maced, punched, beaten,” and then transported to a local hospital before being moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. He was released before 3 p.m. Tuesday and is now back with his family.
Police said they conducted a follow-up investigation Tuesday morning after they received the missing persons report. “We obliged and took that report for them this morning, we did a follow up to see if we could locate the individual and it turned out he had been taken down to the Metropolitan Detention Center,” said Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benitez.
Witnesses described the arrest scene as chaotic and intimidating. “It was really sad,” said one worker in the area. “When they came, people looked really scared, like we were criminals.” Another nearby worker, Victor Garcia, added, “In my opinion it is just like racial profiling—they just pull Latino Americans, Hispanics—it is not right.”
The case has raised questions about local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement. Oxnard Police Chief Benitez reiterated that the department is not cooperating with ICE, citing Senate Bill 54 — California’s sanctuary state law — which prohibits local agencies from using resources to aid federal immigration enforcement. However, some residents remain skeptical.
Community members — including activists, attorneys, and people from both sides of the political aisle — filled city council chambers Tuesday night to demand answers and accountability. One speaker said, “Fear hangs like a cloud over Oxnard right now.” A hotline number to report undocumented individuals was also read aloud during public comment.
Deborah Baber, treasurer of the Ventura County Republican Party, addressed the incident during public comment, saying, “One got picked up incorrectly is not even a drop in the bucket—it is not even a bit of mist.” But the overwhelming majority of speakers urged council members to stand up for migrant workers and denounce the recent actions by immigration authorities.
“Now the community is going to make its voice heard about some of the stuff that has happened in the last week—really traumatic incidences that have occurred and community members that have been impacted by these immigration raids,” said Steven Auclair, Chair of the Democratic Party.
ICE has not responded to requests for information about what happened to Ramirez Diaz or his father. Video of the incident has circulated widely online, drawing attention from civil rights advocates and immigration groups. Further coverage and community reaction will be featured tonight on the news.