U.S. citizen detained by Border Patrol agents, alleges racial profiling during enforcement operation
Jun 12, 2025·Location: Montebello, CA

Brian Gavidia, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen born and raised in East Los Angeles, was detained by Border Patrol agents on June 12 at his workplace on West Olympic Boulevard in Montebello during an immigration enforcement operation in the San Gabriel Valley. An agent pushed Gavidia against a metal fence and demanded proof of citizenship, asking repeatedly where he was born despite his repeated statements that he was American. Video footage shows two agents holding Gavidia against the fence while he stated "I'm American, bro!" Agents confiscated his Real ID and did not return it; they also took his phone for approximately 20 minutes before returning it. Gavidia, whose mother is Colombian and his father is Salvadoran, believes he was targeted because of his Latino heritage and appearance. He described the encounter as traumatic, saying he feared for his life when an agent racked a chamber in an AR-15. A friend who was filming the encounter was injured and bleeding from the forehead after being pushed by another agent. Gavidia has since joined an ACLU lawsuit with other plaintiffs challenging immigration enforcement tactics and racial profiling, and has renounced his earlier support for President Trump, stating he was "manipulated" and "brainwashed." He now carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution and helps with know-your-rights workshops.
Sources
- Trump supporter detained by ICE Agents regrets vote: "Were all brainwashed"
Newsweek·Aug 13, 2025·archived copy
- Video shows immigration agents interrogating a Latino U.S. citizen: 'I’m American, bro!'
Los Angeles Times·Jun 14, 2025·archived copy
- How a man who voted for President Trump became a plaintiff in a lawsuit over immigration raids
nbclosangeles.com·Aug 11, 2025·archived copy
- New Lawsuit Says ICE Agents are Racially Profiling American Citizens
lamag.com·Jul 8, 2025·archived copy
- Trump voter’s regret! ICE detains supporter who now says, “We were all brainwashed”
- Man Denounces Support For Trump And Joins Lawsuit After He Says Border Patrol Racially Profiled Him
HuffPost·Aug 13, 2025·archived copy
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