U.S. citizen Ricardo Gonzalez hospitalized with a broken arm after ICE agents detained him in Long Beach
The Guardian reported on Oct. 19 that officials said ICE agents broke the arm of Ricardo Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen, during a detention in Long Beach, Calif. He was taken to a hospital. The New York Times reported that Long Beach police said ICE called them for backup and that officers found a man who was bleeding. His family told The Times he is a citizen. Video of the arrest circulated online.
Immigration agents are not supposed to detain citizens, and injuries during arrests raise questions about use of force. Local police being called to back up ICE also matters in California, where state law limits cooperation.
If you are a citizen, you are not required to prove status to immigration agents on the street, but carrying ID can speed things up. If you witness an arrest, you may record it from a safe distance.
Officials quoted by the Guardian said the injury happened during a confrontation, and federal agencies have defended agents who face resistance during arrests.
The family and local officials, cited by The Times, say a citizen should never have been detained, and they want an investigation into the force used.
Confirmed: Gonzalez is a citizen and was hospitalized. Not confirmed: why agents stopped him. Watch for a statement from ICE or an inquiry.
DailyDrop U.S. No. 16 · October 20, 2026