A Guatemalan man lost his life on Thursday following a tragic incident in California related to a federal deportation raid. The man, Carlos Roberto Montoya, 52, was reportedly fleeing from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at a Home Depot in Monrovia when he ran onto the 210 Freeway. He was struck by an SUV traveling at speeds between 50 and 60 miles per hour. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The Consulate General of Guatemala in Los Angeles expressed sorrow over this incident, stating, “The consulate deeply regrets this sad event and is currently in contact with the family, providing the necessary assistance.”
ICE officials claimed they were not targeting Montoya specifically and learned of his death only hours after the raid had concluded. Reports indicate that while Montoya is identified as a “Guatemalan national,” his immigration status remains unclear. According to Democratic California Representative Judy Chu, Montoya had been living in the United States for three years. She attributed his death to the policies implemented by the previous administration, stating, “Make no mistake, his death is a direct result of the Trump administration’s strategy of sowing fear and intimidation throughout our community.”
This incident has sparked a vigil for Montoya held by family, friends, and various activist groups. During the Home Depot raid, more than a dozen individuals who were undocumented immigrants were detained. The current recruitment drive by ICE has attracted over 100,000 applicants since this past July. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called upon potential recruits, asserting, “In the wake of the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country.” She emphasized the critical nature of the situation, stating it is a “defining moment in our nation’s history.”
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