Story perspectives

ICE Agents Break Citizen’s Arm During Handcuffed Arrest

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 3:32 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

ICE agents broke U.S. citizen Ricardo González’s arm while handcuffed in Long Beach.
Video showed officers kneeling on his back as he lay face down.
Mayor Rex Richardson said González called emergency services after the injury.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) called the assault brutal and urged ICE abolition.
Long Beach Police removed his handcuffs, stating they do not conduct immigration enforcement.

History

Historical Context

In September 1994 Attorney General Janet Reno announced Operation Gatekeeper, launching on October 1 with steel fencing, lights and extra Border Patrol agents that raised Imperial Beach apprehensions by 1,470 in the first week. The crackdown pushed migrants into harsher terrain, causing thousands of deaths. The 2024 Long Beach incident—agents handcuffing Ricardo González—echoes that enforcement legacy, sparking calls for ICE abolition by Mayor Rex Richardson and Rep. Robert Garcia.

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Story summary

ICE agents broke U.S. citizen Ricardo González’s arm while handcuffed in Long Beach.
Video showed officers kneeling on his back as he lay face down.
Mayor Rex Richardson said González called emergency services after the injury.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) called the assault brutal and urged ICE abolition.
Long Beach Police removed his handcuffs, stating they do not conduct immigration enforcement.

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