PICO RIVERA, Calif. — A 20-year-old U.S. citizen, Adrian Andrew Martinez, was released from federal detention on June 20, 2025, following a controversial arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Pico Rivera, California, on June 17, 2025.
The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, has fueled widespread community protests and raised concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics, including allegations of excessive force and potential racial profiling.
Martinez’s release marks a significant development in a case that has drawn national attention, alongside other recent incidents involving the detention and release of U.S. citizens during immigration operations.
On June 17, 2025, Martinez, a Walmart employee, was arrested in the parking lot of the Pico Rivera Towne Center, located in the 8600 block of Washington Boulevard.
According to eyewitnesses and Martinez’s attorneys from the Miller Law Group, he was attempting to intervene on behalf of an elderly janitorial worker who was being detained by ICE agents during an immigration enforcement operation.
Video footage, including surveillance from a nearby juice bar and a bystander’s recording, shows federal agents tackling Martinez to the ground after a heated exchange.
The footage, which went viral, does not clearly show Martinez punching an agent, despite initial claims by federal authorities.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino and U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli initially alleged that Martinez punched a Border Patrol agent in the face while attempting to impede the operation, leading to charges of conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer.
However, a sworn statement later filed in the case did not mention Martinez throwing punches, and security footage reviewed by FOX 11 Los Angeles appears to contradict the assault claim.
Martinez was released on a $5,000 bond after a federal judge ordered his release, with his attorneys asserting, “Adrian did nothing wrong, and was standing up for an elderly janitorial worker when he was violently assaulted and abducted by masked federal agents.”
The incident has sparked significant unrest in Pico Rivera, a predominantly Latino community.
On June 17, dozens of residents gathered at Pico Rivera City Hall, marching to the nearby Walgreens to protest Martinez’s detention and demand the city sever ties with federal immigration authorities.
Mayor Andrew Lara and City Manager Steve Carmona issued statements condemning actions that “disrupt families, spread fear, and create division,” reaffirming Pico Rivera’s commitment to its diverse community.
Other Incidents of U.S. Citizens Detained and Released
The Pico Rivera case is not an isolated event.
Several other recent incidents across the United States have involved the detention and subsequent release of U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement operations, raising concerns about racial profiling and the treatment of citizens during such raids.
- Montebello, California (June 2025): Less than three miles from Pico Rivera, Border Patrol agents arrested Javier Ramirez, a U.S. citizen working at a tow yard in Montebello. Agents also detained and questioned another U.S. citizen, Brian Gavidia, pressing him against a fence and asking where he was born. Both individuals were released after their citizenship was verified, but the incident heightened fears of racial profiling in Latino-majority communities.
- Hollywood Home Depot, California (June 2025): A 37-year-old U.S. citizen, identified only as Garcia, was tackled and arrested by Border Patrol agents while filming an immigration operation at a Home Depot in Hollywood. Garcia reported that agents boasted about detaining dozens of individuals during the raid. He was held for over an hour near Dodger Stadium before being released from a downtown federal detention center on June 20, 2025, with no criminal charges filed.
- Tucson, Arizona (Late May 2025): A U.S. deputy marshal was briefly detained by ICE agents in the lobby of a federal building housing an immigration court in Tucson, Arizona. The incident, described as a case of mistaken identity, occurred when the deputy marshal “fit the general description of a subject being sought by ICE.” Fellow law enforcement officers quickly verified his identity, and he was released without further incident.
- Paramount, California (June 2025): Cary López Alvarado, a pregnant U.S. citizen, was detained alongside her boyfriend Brayan Nájera and cousin Alberto Sandoval, also a U.S. citizen, on June 8, 2025, outside a building where Nájera and Sandoval were performing maintenance work. López was released four days later, after giving birth to a healthy baby girl, and Sandoval was also released after his citizenship was confirmed. Nájera, however, remains detained in a Texas facility, despite López’s claim that he has no criminal record.
The series of detentions has amplified tensions in Latino communities across Southern California, particularly in Pico Rivera, Montebello, and Paramount, where federal immigration sweeps have targeted largely Hispanic populations.
Community advocates, such as Santa Ana’s Maria Corona, have emphasized the fear these operations instill, with residents like 15-year-old children worrying about proving their citizenship.
Grassroots organizations are assisting families in tracking detained loved ones, while Los Angeles Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez has partnered with immigrant rights groups to host “Know Your Rights” workshops in areas like Koreatown and Pico-Union.
California lawmakers have also responded.
State Senator Maria Elena Durazo introduced Senate Bill 635 to prevent immigration agents from accessing street vendor data and prohibit local code enforcement officers from assisting federal agents, aiming to protect vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the deployment of National Guard troops to assist federal agents in immigration enforcement, citing ongoing protests and violence as justification.
Also Read: Huntington Park Now Directs Police To Enforce ICE Self-Identification
The Effects of the Chaos
The detention of U.S. citizens during immigration raids has sparked a broader debate about the scope and methods of federal immigration enforcement.
Critics, including Martinez’s family and legal team, argue that these incidents reflect systemic issues, including racial profiling and excessive use of force.
Myra Villareal, Martinez’s mother, told NBC Los Angeles, “I don’t think what he did was wrong.
He was practicing his freedom of speech.”
Eyewitness Oscar Preciado, who recorded the Pico Rivera incident, described agents grabbing him by the neck while he defended Martinez, further highlighting allegations of aggressive tactics.
Conversely, federal officials, including Bovino, have defended their actions, warning that interfering with law enforcement is a felony and emphasizing the need to maintain order during operations.
U.S. Attorney Essayli’s posts on X reiterated that individuals who impede or strike agents face federal charges.
Martinez’s release on June 20, 2025, has been hailed as a victory by his attorneys and supporters, but the incident has left lasting concerns in Pico Rivera and beyond.
The city’s leadership has pledged to explore legal options to support residents and educate them about their rights.
As similar cases emerge, advocates continue to call for transparency, accountability, and reforms to prevent the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens.
The Pico Rivera incident, alongside others in Montebello, Hollywood, Tucson, and Paramount, underscores the complex interplay between immigration enforcement and civil rights.
As communities rally to protect their residents, the nation watches closely to see how these tensions will shape future federal policies.
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