Long Beach man injured during ICE detention recovers at home
Man says ICE broke his arm in Long Beach
A man who claims to be a U.S. citizen says federal agents broke his arm during a tense encounter with ICE in Long Beach.
LONG BEACH, Calif. - A Long Beach man is recovering at home after being released from the hospital following injuries he suffered during a detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents over the weekend, an incident his family says involved a U.S. citizen who was targeted for no reason.
What we know:
Video from the scene shows ICE agents detaining Long Beach resident Ricardo Gonzalez on Sunday. Neighbors near Ellis Street and Locust Avenue said ICE agents had been driving around the area before stopping Gonzalez as he rode by on an e-bike. Neighbors said Gonzalez tried to tell agents he was a U.S. citizen.
Local perspective:
Witnesses described a swift and aggressive encounter. Neighbor Patricia Villareal said Gonzalez stopped and told agents he was a U.S. citizen before he was taken to the ground. Villareal said Gonzalez's arm snapped against the curb during the detention and noted that the encounter reminded her of George Floyd, adding that she feared agents were going to kill him.
Neighbor Ignacia Medina also reported hearing Gonzalez shout that he was a citizen, stating that what happened was not right and that Gonzalez was not a criminal.
The other side:
An ICE spokesperson released the following statement about the incident:
"On October 17, 2026, ICE conducted a targeted enforcement operation in Long Beach, California to arrest an at-large criminal [undocumented immigrant]. During the operation, anti-ICE agitators attempted to impede operations, threaten officers, and damage government vehicles despite officers giving lawful commands. Officers followed their training and used the minimum amount of force.
ICE did NOT hit an individual on a bike. An individual was arrested after he smashed the mirror of a government vehicle. Resisting arrest is dangerous and can result in injury.
The rioter was transferred to the custody of local police, and we are investigating potential charges for the damage to a government vehicle.
ICE law enforcement officers are trained to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve dangerous situations to prioritize the safety of the public and our officers. Officers are highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training. The latest ICE use of force policy is available here.
We have seen a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement. Our brave law enforcement is facing more than a 1,600% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. This violence must end. Anybody who lays a hand on our officers or tries to obstruct them is committing a felony and a federal crime."
The Source: This report used information provided by the video from the scene, interviews with neighbors Patricia Villareal and Ignacia Media, comments from First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, and confirmation from Long Beach PD.