Fact Check: A man was arrested for impersonating an ICE officer with a loaded gun.
What We Know
On June 28, 2025, police in Huntington Park, California, arrested a man named Fernando Diaz for allegedly impersonating a federal immigration officer. During the arrest, officers discovered a loaded firearm and documents that appeared to be from the Department of Homeland Security in his vehicle. The arrest occurred when police were impounding Diaz's car for parking in a handicapped zone, and he requested to retrieve items from inside the vehicle. Among the items found were multiple copies of passports not registered under his name, as reported by NBC Los Angeles and The Guardian.
At a news conference, local officials accused Diaz of impersonating an immigration agent, although Diaz himself denied these allegations, expressing surprise at the accusations. The police displayed documents found in his car that had a U.S. Customs and Border Protection header, further raising concerns about his intentions. This incident is part of a broader trend, as experts have noted an increase in cases of individuals impersonating immigration officials, particularly during a time of heightened enforcement actions by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) under the Trump administration (The Guardian).
Analysis
The claim that a man was arrested for impersonating an ICE officer with a loaded gun is supported by multiple credible sources. The details of the arrest, including the discovery of the firearm and the official-looking documents, are consistent across reports from reputable news outlets such as NBC Los Angeles and The Guardian.
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. The incident reflects a concerning trend of impersonation of federal agents, which has been exacerbated by the practices of actual federal agents who often operate in plainclothes and unmarked vehicles. This has led to confusion and increased risks for both the public and legitimate law enforcement officers (The Guardian).
Moreover, the context of Diaz's arrest aligns with a series of similar incidents where individuals have posed as ICE officers, sometimes with harmful intentions. For instance, there have been reports of impersonators engaging in criminal activities, such as kidnapping and sexual assault, which underscores the seriousness of the issue (The Guardian).
Conclusion
The claim that a man was arrested for impersonating an ICE officer while carrying a loaded gun is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms that Fernando Diaz was indeed arrested under these circumstances, and the broader context of impersonation of immigration officials further substantiates the seriousness of the claim.
