ICE says agents used their training to control the student until they could confirm his identity
U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementFederal immigration enforcement agency, in a statement from a public affairs officer to KEYT
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.
Responding 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.
“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.”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
ICE detains a U.S.-citizen student with disabilities near Santa Maria High School; ICE says he resisted and disputes reports of broken bones
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.
Source and context
Reporting
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.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
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.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
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.
After the quotation
The statement then says claims that the individual suffered broken bones are false and that he never requested medical assistance.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
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.
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More from this case
Read the full caseGloria Soto calls the detention brutality and asks for an independent investigation
“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.”Read statement
Salud Carbajal calls the ICE detention of a Santa Maria student outrageous
“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.”Read statement
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- ICE says agents used their training to control the student until they could confirm his identity
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The Dispute Index. "ICE says agents used their training to control the student until they could confirm his identity". First published: 2026-11-01. Last updated: 2026-11-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/7721-in-a-statement-to-keyt-ice-says-the