Santa Barbara County District Attorney addresses alleged assault on Santa Maria High School student by ICE

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch described the alleged assault on a Santa Maria High School student with disabilities by ICE agents as “deeply troubling” in a public statement on Monday.  

“I recognize the concern and anger this incident has caused throughout our community,” Savrnoch wrote. “Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and allegations involving the use of force by law enforcement officers, regardless of the agency involved, must be taken seriously and carefully examined.”

Sofia Estrada Navarro, an activist and volunteer for 805 UndocuFund, said she demands accountability from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the alleged aggression its agents committed on the student. 

“In my opinion they need to be removed from their position,” Estrada Navarro said. “It’s as simple as that.”

She also wanted leaders like Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino to speak up soon about the incident at a City Council meeting. 

A Santa Maria High School student was on his way to school on Oct. 21 when two ICE agents allegedly tackled the 20-year-old U.S. citizen to the ground, forcing him into their car. The student was left with bruises, lacerations and a broken wrist that required surgery after the federal agents released him.

Administrators later called an ambulance for the student to receive medical care after he had arrived at school the same morning.  

The event sparked countywide upset from immigration activists and community leaders amid an uptick in ICE activity in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County. 

Savrnoch said the District Attorney’s Office had not received any formal requests for charges, and could not further comment at this time. 

“The District Attorney’s Office has been in communication with the Santa Maria Police Department regarding this incident and is coordinating with the appropriate authorities to gather information and determine the appropriate next steps,” Savrnoch wrote. 

School officials for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District confirmed the California Attorney General and ICE had also been notified about the event.  

“We are aware of the incident and Attorney General Bonta remains committed to holding ICE accountable and standing up for California’s immigrant communities,” wrote Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office in a statement to the News-Press.  

According to an ICE spokesperson, the student matched the description of someone the agents were looking for in Santa Maria. 

The spokesperson denied the student had suffered any broken bones from the incident. 

Estrada Navarro said some students are organizing a walk-out at 1 p.m. on Friday from Santa Maria High School to the Santa Maria Town Center to protest the alleged assault by ICE agents.

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