Fact Check: "A man was arrested for impersonating an ICE officer and carrying a loaded gun."
What We Know
On June 28, 2025, police in Huntington Park, California, arrested a man named Fernando Diaz for allegedly impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and possessing a loaded firearm. According to reports, Diaz was initially stopped for parking in a handicapped zone. Upon impounding his vehicle, officers discovered a loaded gun and documents that appeared to be from the Department of Homeland Security inside his SUV (NBC Los Angeles, The Guardian). The police chief and mayor publicly accused Diaz of impersonating an immigration agent during a news conference, where they displayed the documents found in his vehicle (The Guardian).
Diaz was subsequently arrested for possession of an unregistered firearm and was released on bail. He later expressed surprise at the accusations of impersonation, denying that he had posed as an ICE officer (NBC Los Angeles, Fox8). This incident is part of a broader trend, as there has been an increase in arrests of individuals impersonating federal immigration officers, particularly during a time of heightened immigration enforcement (The Guardian).
Analysis
The claim that a man was arrested for impersonating an ICE officer and carrying a loaded gun is supported by multiple credible sources. The reports from NBC Los Angeles and The Guardian provide consistent details about the arrest, including the circumstances leading to it and the items found in Diaz's vehicle. The police's public statements regarding Diaz's alleged impersonation of an immigration officer add further credibility to the claim.
However, it is important to note that while Diaz was accused of impersonation, he denied these allegations. This introduces an element of uncertainty regarding his intentions and actions. The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident is generally high, as they are established news organizations with a track record of covering law enforcement issues. Nevertheless, the potential for bias exists, particularly in the context of politically charged topics such as immigration enforcement.
The broader context of increased impersonation cases of ICE officers suggests a growing concern about public safety and the potential for confusion between legitimate law enforcement and imposters (The Guardian). This trend highlights the risks associated with the current practices of federal immigration enforcement, which often involve plainclothes agents.
Conclusion
The claim that a man was arrested for impersonating an ICE officer and carrying a loaded gun is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that Fernando Diaz was indeed arrested under these circumstances, despite his denial of the impersonation allegations. The incident reflects ongoing issues related to immigration enforcement and the impersonation of federal agents.
