High school senior still detained weeks after dog walk arrest, community demands release
Jun 6, 2025·Location: San Fernando Valley, CA

Benjamin Marcelo Guerrero-Cruz, 18, a rising senior at Reseda Charter High School, was detained by federal immigration agents on Aug. 8 while walking the family dog in Van Nuys. A neighbor said masked agents in unmarked vests labeled "immigration police" took him from the scene, leaving the dog loose in an alley. He remains in Department of Homeland Security custody awaiting deportation proceedings, and on Aug. 19 educators, former teachers and community activists rallied outside LAUSD headquarters demanding his release so he can return to school. His family, including four younger siblings who miss him, has started a GoFundMe to support him.
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