Masked federal agents aggressively detained two employees at a Torrance car wash Sunday afternoon, sparking a confrontation with the business owner and concern from family members who say they don’t know where their loved ones are.
The owner of Bubble Bath Car Wash told KTLA that about 20 agents swarmed his business. Video shows agents pushing the owner inside the car wash tunnel as he questioned their identities and authority.
“Who are you? You guys literally look like (expletive) criminals,” he shouted.
The owner identified the detained employees as Hans Hernandez and Alfredo Vasquez, both of whom have worked at the car wash for more than 15 years. He said neither has a criminal record.
“These people don’t deserve that. They’re honest, hard-working people who are just making a living,” the owner told KTLA. “Why are we not going after people who have criminal records and are actually making trouble?”
Bertha Guzman, a customer at the car wash during the incident, also confronted the agents. One told her, “Ma’am, this is an immigration inspection.”
Guzman said she advised another employee not to speak with the masked men.
“I didn’t let him answer any questions because these guys were not identifying themselves, and it’s illegal to do that,” Guzman said.
KTLA spoke with worried family members of the two detained men. They said they do not know the whereabouts of their loved ones or the reason for their detention. They declined to discuss the men’s immigration status, saying only that they are hard-working individuals with families.
The Torrance Police Department issued a statement about Sunday’s incident, highlighting its stance on immigration enforcement.
“The Torrance Police Department is aware of recent federal immigration enforcement actions in our city and throughout Los Angeles County,” the department stated. “Consistent with California Senate Bill 54 and the principles laid out in the California Values Act, the Torrance Police Department does not participate in civil immigration enforcement and our officers do not engage in federal immigration operations.”
The statement continued, “TPD also does not inquire about immigration status during calls for service, and does not assist federal agencies in civil immigration actions.”
The Torrance raid was among dozens that have occurred in Southern California in recent weeks as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy.
