On the morning of August 16, 2025, a routine drive home from work for a San Bernardino family turned into a scene of chaos, confusion, and gunfire, igniting a fierce debate over immigration enforcement tactics in Southern California. What began as a vehicle stop near the intersection of Acacia Avenue and Baseline Street quickly escalated into a standoff that would draw crowds, spark outrage, and leave many in the community questioning the boundaries between federal authority and public safety.
According to multiple reports, including coverage by L.A. Taco, Patch, Los Angeles Times, and NBC Los Angeles, the incident unfolded around 8:40 a.m. when federal agents in unmarked vehicles attempted to detain a man driving a truck with his son and son-in-law. The family, returning from work, was suddenly surrounded by men in police vests—one of whom wore a hat marked “CBP,” the acronym for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Cellphone video recorded from inside the truck, later shared by the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ), captured the tense moments as the agents approached with weapons drawn.
The family repeatedly demanded identification and a warrant from the agents. The men outside, however, did not comply, nor did they present any judicial paperwork. Instead, the situation escalated: the agents used a device to smash through the driver and passenger windows, attempting to forcibly remove the driver. In the chaos, the driver sped off, and three gunshots rang out—later confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as shots fired by a federal agent.
“I had to protect my life and my family,” the driver, Francisco, told NBC Los Angeles. “My truck was shot three times.” His son-in-law Martin added, “It’s just upsetting that it happened to us. I am glad my brother is okay, Pop is okay, but it’s just not cool that ICE is able to do something like that.” The family managed to escape unharmed, returning to their home as the drama continued to unfold outside.
San Bernardino Police Department responded to 911 calls reporting shots fired. Officers arriving at the scene encountered federal agents who confirmed an officer-involved shooting and said the suspect had fled. According to Los Angeles Times, the police later located the vehicle on Mt. View Drive and spoke with the man, but were not informed by federal agents about the nature of the charges against him. Under California’s Values Act, local law enforcement is prohibited from assisting federal officers with immigration enforcement, so the officers left the scene once federal authorities took over.
The official account from DHS diverged sharply from the family’s. In a statement, DHS claimed that during a “targeted enforcement operation,” the suspect refused to exit the vehicle and “tried to run them down,” striking two CBP officers with his truck. “In the course of the incident the suspect drove his car at the officers and struck two CBP officers with his vehicle. Because of that, a CBP officer discharged his firearm in self-defense,” a DHS spokesperson told NBC Los Angeles. However, the cellphone video released by the family did not show the moment when the officers were allegedly struck, leaving key aspects of the encounter in dispute.
As news of the incident spread, dozens of community members and activists gathered around the family’s home, demanding answers and decrying the agents’ actions. The standoff between the family, now barricaded inside, and federal officers lasted for several hours. According to KTLA and ABC7, federal agents arrived around 11:00 a.m. and surrounded the home. By 1:12 p.m., the growing crowd prompted agents to request assistance from San Bernardino police, not for immigration enforcement but for crowd control. The agents reportedly remained outside until 3:45 p.m., “pressuring the individual to come outside,” as the ICIJ described it. Despite the tense standoff, the agents ultimately left without arresting the man or his family members.
During the aftermath, a man and a minor were arrested by San Bernardino police, though not on immigration-related charges. The ICIJ claimed that one of those detained was arrested for speaking out, raising further concerns about the use of force and the rights of community members during such operations. The federal agents left the area without detaining the original suspects, and the incident was left in the hands of federal investigators, who are now reviewing the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The incident has drawn condemnation from immigrant rights groups and public officials alike. The ICIJ labeled the episode “a clear abuse of power,” stating, “Firing at civilians, harassing families without cause, and targeting community voices must stop.” State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Pasadena, issued a statement in response to a separate but related fatal incident, saying, “President Trump’s terror campaign has taken another life. There is such incredible fear in our immigrant communities, so much so that people will run into freeway traffic out of fear when all they want is a chance to support their family and seek the American Dream.” Pérez called for an end to what she described as violent and sweeping immigration raids, noting that a federal court order prohibits such practices in the region.
For their part, federal officials have pointed to California’s sanctuary laws as a barrier to effective law enforcement, with a DHS spokesperson criticizing “California’s pro-sanctuary policies in action that shield criminals instead of protecting communities.” The spokesperson claimed that local authorities had the man in custody but released him, a decision they argued undermines public safety. However, San Bernardino police maintained that their involvement was limited to crowd control, in compliance with state law, and that they could not assist in immigration-related arrests.
The shooting and subsequent standoff have reignited debates over the conduct of federal immigration agents in California, particularly in light of recent high-profile incidents. Just two days prior, a man was killed while fleeing an immigration enforcement raid in Monrovia, prompting further scrutiny of federal tactics and their impact on immigrant communities.
As federal investigators continue to examine the events of August 16, the San Bernardino community remains shaken by the violence and uncertainty that erupted on an otherwise ordinary morning. The incident has become a flashpoint in the broader national conversation about immigration enforcement, civil rights, and the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies—both federal and local—in upholding the law while respecting the rights and safety of all community members.
