Community members in El Monte gathered in front of City Hall Wednesday to protest the arrest of a woman after she was accused of following federal agents last month.
El Monte police said officers had to step in on Jan. 30 after the woman, cornered by federal agents, refused to come out of her car. The police department said its officers responded after receiving an assistance request from U.S. Customs and Border agents.
Police body camera footage showed when officers responded, several masked federal agents surrounded a black SUV. When the officers approached the driver, the woman, Maria Santay, was inside the car.
“We’re not here to take you to jail,” an El Monte police officer told Santay in the video. “It’s just us. Roll down your window, so I can talk to you.”
The officer explained to Santay that federal agents said she was “following them.”
Santay, who claimed to be a U.S. citizen in the video, began livestreaming the encounter as she said she noticed several cars following her after leaving Jack in the Box.
“They got a whole caravan on me, guys,” she said in the earlier portion of the video.
A few minutes later, she was seen pulling her car over and said the agents boxed her in, “trying to intimidate” her.
“They’re going to break my window, guys. They are insane. They’re going to let this happen,” she said.
The Department of Homeland Security said Santay was “stalking enforcement throughout the day and disobeyed traffic signals, ran red lights and attempted to block agents’ vehicles.”
The federal agency also added that because Santay was issued multiple warnings but refused to comply, agents were forced to extract her from the car.
Santay’s video also showed at least one agent trying to break her passenger side window.
When the cellphone video went black, the agents were heard ordering Santay to put her hands behind her back before taking her into custody.
The DHS said it issued Santay two violations for assaulting, resisting or impeding officers and conspiracy to impede or injure officers.
The El Monte police chief released a video message Wednesday, confirming the incident and adding that his officers were there to de-escalate, not participating in immigration enforcement.
“Once a supervisor arrived and confirmed an immigration enforcement was going to take place, we removed ourselves from the situation as required by law,” Chief Jake Fisher said.
Under the California Values Act, also known as SB 54, local law enforcement is prohibited from interfering with or assisting immigration enforcement operations.
The El Monte Police Department also said it’s conducting an internal review of the incident and hosting several community listening sessions as protesters Wednesday demanded that the city institute a sanctuary city policy.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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