Federal agent shoots man during California immigration operation

ONTARIO, Calif. (NewsNation) — Two men are in custody after one was shot Thursday by federal agents during an “immigration enforcement operation” in Southern California.

The shooting, which is being investigated by the FBI, occurred at around 6:30 a.m. in the 2800 block of South Vineyard Avenue in the city of Ontario, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The man who federal agents shot was 24-year-old Carlos Jimenez, who drove his vehicle to a nearby mobile home park where he lives. His wife, who said he had just left for work, took him to the hospital.

Neighbors said they watched as federal agents searched Jimenez's residence and vehicle, which was ultimately taken away by a tow truck.

He has since been released from the hospital and taken to the West Valley Detention Center.

In a statement to NewsNation affiliate KTLA, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said ICE agents were conducting a traffic stop when an individual who was not the target of the enforcement operation pulled his vehicle in front of federal agents’ vehicles.

Officers ordered the driver to leave the scene. As the driver began to pull away, the car stopped and attempted to run officers over by reversing directly at them without stopping,” the statement read. “An ICE officer, fearing for his life, fired defensive shots at the vehicle.”

The target of the enforcement operation, who was reportedly behind the wheel of a gray Honda, may have attempted to flee during the melee, but was also later apprehended.

“This is not the first time that DHS claims that vehicles are being used against them,” Javier Hernandez with the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice told KTLA.

“We know that DHS has put out a statement saying that violence against these officers is up 8,000%, so this is not the first time this information is out there,” Hernandez told KTLA. “We have also seen how this information isn’t necessarily accurate.”

NewsNation affiliate KTLA in Los Angeles contributed to this report.