Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents work during a traffic stop (Representative image: AP).
A US citizen who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in the country’s southern California has filed a $25 million lawsuit against the federal government, accusing authorities of using excessive force, wrongfully arresting him and pursuing a case based on fabricated allegations. Carlos Jimenez was reportedly driving to work at a food pantry on October 30, 2025, when he encountered ICE officers conducting an operation in his neighbourhood. Jimenez approached the officers around 7 am to warn them that children would soon be arriving at a nearby bus stop, according to the complaint filed in federal court on Friday. The justice department’s Los Angeles office has prosecuted 113 people for alleged offences against immigration officers since last spring, according to the Guardian. A Guardian review found that, as of mid-September, charges against 33 of them had been dismissed and nine others had been acquitted by juries.
A judge ordered the government to produce records of agents’ communications in May, The Guardian reported.
The lawsuit alleges that an ICE officer, later identified as Eusebio Ortiz, pointed a gun at Jimenez’s face, abused him verbally and threatened to shoot if he did not leave, according to the Guardian. The department of homeland security (DHS) had said at the time that Jimenez attempted to run over officers by reversing towards them without stopping. It described the officer’s gunfire as “defensive” shots. Jimenez’s lawsuit describes the criminal allegations as “fabricated”.
The complaint cites audio recorded over the officer’s radio. It also points out that, despite DHS’s claim that the shooting was defensive, the criminal complaint did not include a statement from Ortiz saying he had felt threatened. During the criminal proceedings, defence lawyers sought access to officers’ text messages.
Because officers’ vehicles were blocking his way, jimenez then claimed to comply and attempted a three-point turn. However, Ortiz allegedly fired several shots into the car without warning, hitting Jimenez in the back and right shoulder.