ICE detains a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities near Santa Maria High School; ICE says he resisted and disputes reports of broken bones
ICE agents detained Erik Zepeda, a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities, as he walked to Santa Maria High School. ICE says he resisted and calls reports of broken bones false. Rep. Salud Carbajal and a city councilmember want an investigation.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
On October 21, 2026, ICE agents detained Erik Zepeda, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen and Santa Maria High School student with disabilities, as he walked to school, then released him. His former teacher says his wrist was broken in three places and needed surgery. ICE says agents believed he matched the description of their target, that he resisted and took a fighting stance, and that claims of broken bones are false. Rep. Salud Carbajal and Councilmember Gloria Soto call for an investigation.
Read the full background
Superintendent Antonio Garcia told families that ICE officers detained the student about half a mile from campus on the morning of October 21 and released him in the same area, and that school administrators called an ambulance when he reached campus, according to KSBY. KEYT reports that Santa Maria police confirmed federal immigration officers were involved, obtained surveillance footage from a grocery store across the street and turned it over to the Department of Homeland Security. The school district and police both confirmed his ambulance ride and treatment, including surgery, according to KEYT.
Zepeda told KEYT that agents handcuffed him, put him in their vehicle and questioned him while driving around, and never asked to see the identification he carried in his wallet. His former teacher describes him as a special education student with limited verbal communication and says his wrist was broken in three places.
In its statement to KEYT, ICE says agents were conducting a targeted enforcement operation and encountered an individual they believed matched the description of their target. It says he resisted, refused lawful commands and took a fighting stance, that claims he suffered broken bones are false, and that he never requested medical assistance.
The detention came during a surge of immigration enforcement on the Central Coast. KSBY reports that the group 805 UndocuFund counted more than 200 people across the region detained or unaccounted for since October 5. On October 30, Carbajal asked Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE Director David Venturella for a thorough investigation.
People in this case
Salud CarbajalCommented
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 21, 2026 to October 30, 2026
October 2026
ICE agents detain a Santa Maria High School student walking to school
Incident
Agents detain Erik Zepeda, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen with disabilities, near the campus, question him and release him. When he reaches school, staff see his injuries and call an ambulance.
[01]Santa Maria student detained by ICE while walking to school Wednesday morning (KSBY)
KSBY report based on Superintendent Antonio Garcia's message to parents, which says the student was detained about half a mile from campus and later released in the same area. It summarizes ICE's statement.
[02]Santa Maria police turn over surveillance footage after ICE agents misidentify, injure student (KEYT)
KEYT report on the October 21 detention of Santa Maria High School student Erik Zepeda. It quotes Zepeda's former teacher, says Santa Maria police obtained grocery-store surveillance footage and turned it over to the Department of Homeland Security, and prints the full statement ICE sent the station.
ICE says the student resisted and disputes reports of broken bones
Reaction
In a statement to KEYT, ICE says agents believed the man matched the description of their target, that he resisted and took a fighting stance, and that claims he suffered broken bones are false.
[02]Santa Maria police turn over surveillance footage after ICE agents misidentify, injure student (KEYT)
KEYT report on the October 21 detention of Santa Maria High School student Erik Zepeda. It quotes Zepeda's former teacher, says Santa Maria police obtained grocery-store surveillance footage and turned it over to the Department of Homeland Security, and prints the full statement ICE sent the station.
Santa Maria police turn surveillance footage over to DHS
KEYT reports that Santa Maria police confirmed federal immigration officers were involved, obtained footage from a grocery store across the street and turned it over to the Department of Homeland Security.
[02]Santa Maria police turn over surveillance footage after ICE agents misidentify, injure student (KEYT)
KEYT report on the October 21 detention of Santa Maria High School student Erik Zepeda. It quotes Zepeda's former teacher, says Santa Maria police obtained grocery-store surveillance footage and turned it over to the Department of Homeland Security, and prints the full statement ICE sent the station.
Carbajal asks DHS and ICE for a full investigation
Reaction
Rep. Salud Carbajal writes to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE Director David Venturella asking for a thorough investigation of the detention and of enforcement operations on the Central Coast.
[03]Salud Carbajal
Release from Rep. Salud Carbajal's office dated October 30, 2026, with the text of his letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE Director David Venturella asking for an investigation of the detention and of enforcement operations on the Central Coast.
Carbajal demands full investigation following wrongful detention and injury of Santa Maria High School student · Salud CarbajalFull release and letter text
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The individual ICE agents detained in Santa Maria on October 21 resisted officers, refused lawful commands and assumed a fighting stance with clenched fists.
What is disputed
ICE makes this claim in its statement to KEYT. Zepeda told KEYT that agents handcuffed him, put him in their vehicle and questioned him, and never asked for the identification he carried. Witnesses cited by the Santa Barbara Independent say he was aggressively tackled, restrained and questioned.
Disputed claim
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Claims that the student suffered broken bones are false, and he never requested medical assistance.
What is disputed
ICE makes this claim in its statement to KEYT. His former teacher told KEYT that his wrist was broken in three places and needed surgery, and KEYT reports that the school district and police confirmed his ambulance ride and treatment, including surgery.
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 responses. Newest first.
U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementFederal immigration enforcement agency, in a statement from a public affairs officer to KEYTDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The statement begins by saying that on October 21, ICE was conducting a targeted enforcement operation in Santa Maria when officers encountered an individual they believed matched the description of the criminal illegal alien target.
"When the individual resisted officers, refused lawful commands, and assumed a fighting stance with clenched fists, they relied on their training to safely control the situation until they could confirm his identity, whereupon he was released."
Defended or excusedResponding to: The individual ICE agents detained in Santa Maria on October 21 resisted officers, refused lawful commands and assumed a fighting stance with clenched fists.
Full statement and sources
In a statement to KEYT, ICE says the man its agents encountered resisted, refused commands and took a fighting stance, and that agents relied on their training to control the situation until they could confirm his identity and release him. It calls claims that he suffered broken bones false.
After the statement
The statement then says claims that the individual suffered broken bones are false and that he never requested medical assistance.
Why this label?
The reference point is ICE agents' October 21 detention of Erik Zepeda, a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities, and the force used on him. ICE defends the agents' actions as a trained response to resistance and disputes that he suffered broken bones.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Salud CarbajalU.S. representative for California's 24th District, in a statement from his officeBefore this statement
Carbajal says he is deeply disturbed and outraged to learn of another ICE detainment in Santa Maria, in which agents violently detained a student with disabilities who was walking to school. He says the student is a U.S. citizen whose injuries required surgery.
"This is outrageous and we should not tolerate these tactics. Our schools must remain safe places for students and families, free from fear, intimidation, and racial profiling."
CondemnedCase context: ICE detains a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities near Santa Maria High School; ICE says he resisted and disputes reports of broken bones
Full statement and sources
Rep. Salud Carbajal says ICE agents violently detained a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities who was walking to school and who needed surgery for his injuries. He calls it outrageous and says schools must stay free from fear, intimidation and racial profiling.
After the statement
In an October 30 letter, Carbajal asks Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE Director David Venturella for a thorough investigation of the detention.
Carbajal statement on ICE detainment involving Santa Maria High School student · Salud CarbajalFull releaseCarbajal demands full investigation following wrongful detention and injury of Santa Maria High School student · Salud CarbajalFull release and letter textWhy this label?
The reference point is ICE agents' October 21 detention of Erik Zepeda, a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities, and the force used on him. Carbajal calls the agents' tactics outrageous and says they should not be tolerated.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Gloria SotoSanta Maria city councilmember, quoted by the Santa Barbara Independent Before this statement
Soto says ICE's own statement admits agents stopped the wrong person, that a student walking to school ended up in surgery, and that saying he never requested medical assistance does not change the fact that he was hurt. She adds that reports say he had his ID with him and was never asked for it.
"This kind of brutality is not okay. There needs to be an independent investigation into how a case of mistaken identity ended with a student hurt this badly."
CondemnedResponding to: Claims that the student suffered broken bones are false, and he never requested medical assistance.
Full statement and sources
Santa Maria Councilmember Gloria Soto says ICE's own statement admits agents stopped the wrong person, that the student ended up in surgery, and that the treatment he received was brutality. She calls for an independent investigation.
After the statement
The Independent reports that Soto called the incident the latest in two years of increasingly aggressive enforcement operations on the Central Coast.
Why this label?
The reference point is ICE agents' October 21 detention of Erik Zepeda, a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities, and the force used on him. Soto calls the agents' treatment of the student brutality and asks for an independent investigation.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(5)
Reporting
Santa Maria police turn over surveillance footage after ICE agents misidentify, injure student (KEYT)
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
KEYT report on the October 21 detention of Santa Maria High School student Erik Zepeda. It quotes Zepeda's former teacher, says Santa Maria police obtained grocery-store surveillance footage and turned it over to the Department of Homeland Security, and prints the full statement ICE sent the station.
- Author
- Jarrod Zinn; KEYT News Channel 3-12
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Carbajal demands full investigation following wrongful detention and injury of Santa Maria High School student
Relevant passage: Full release and letter text
About this source
Release from Rep. Salud Carbajal's office dated October 30, 2026, with the text of his letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE Director David Venturella asking for an investigation of the detention and of enforcement operations on the Central Coast.
- Author
- Office of Rep. Salud Carbajal
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Carbajal statement on ICE detainment involving Santa Maria High School student
Relevant passage: Full release
About this source
Statement released by Rep. Salud Carbajal's office on October 23, 2026, after reports that ICE agents tackled and injured a U.S. citizen student from Santa Maria High School.
- Author
- Office of Rep. Salud Carbajal
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Santa Maria student detained by ICE while walking to school Wednesday morning (KSBY)
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
KSBY report based on Superintendent Antonio Garcia's message to parents, which says the student was detained about half a mile from campus and later released in the same area. It summarizes ICE's statement.
- Author
- Arly Lara; KSBY News
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
ICE detains special needs student, U.S. citizen near Santa Maria High School (The Santa Barbara Independent)
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Santa Barbara Independent report on the detention, citing the 805 Rapid Response Network, Superintendent Antonio Garcia's message to families, the ICE statement given to the Los Angeles Times, and comments from Santa Maria Councilmember Gloria Soto.
- Author
- Ryan P. Cruz; The Santa Barbara Independent
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- ICE detains a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities near Santa Maria High School; ICE says he resisted and disputes reports of broken bones
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/ice-detains-us-citizen-student-santa-maria-high-school
The Dispute Index. "ICE detains a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities near Santa Maria High School; ICE says he resisted and disputes reports of broken bones". First published: 2026-11-01. Last updated: 2026-11-01. https://disputeindex.com/cases/ice-detains-us-citizen-student-santa-maria-high-school