Salud Carbajal calls the ICE detention of a Santa Maria student outrageous
Salud CarbajalU.S. representative for California's 24th District, in a statement from his office
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.
“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.”
Official statement
Official statement
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
Official statement
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.
Official statement
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.
Before the quotation
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.
After the quotation
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.
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. Carbajal calls the agents' tactics outrageous and says they should not be tolerated.
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- People and groups discussed
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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
ICE says agents used their training to control the student until they could confirm his identity
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
“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.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Salud Carbajal calls the ICE detention of a Santa Maria student outrageous". First published: 2026-11-01. Last updated: 2026-11-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/7722-rep-salud-carbajal-says-ice-agents-violently-detained