Cynthia Santiago is a California attorney and founder of the Law Office of Cynthia Santiago, where she practices immigration and criminal-defense law.
Case
ICE officer Eusebio Ortiz shot Carlos Jimenez during an immigration operation in Ontario. The government says Jimenez reversed toward an officer; his lawyers say he was leaving. Court filings exposed evidence and interview disputes.
Role at the time: Attorney for Carlos Jimenez
Statement summary
Santiago argued that Jimenez was trying to leave a frightening encounter and that the agents’ approach and use of deadly force were unjustified.
“Then there was a shot from the side, back passenger window, to the car. Use of deadly force is to be used as a last resort. Coming out to communities with guns drawn is the opposite.”
She explicitly contrasts the shooting with the last-resort standard for deadly force and criticizes the agents’ armed approach.
Statement dates: November 2, 2025
Statement dates: November 2, 2025
Statement dates: November 2, 2025
Statement dates: November 2, 2025
