Assemblymembers Hart, Speaker Rivas and Latino Caucus Leaders Condemn ICE Attack Against Disabled U.S. Citizen and Student on the Central Coast

Assemblymember Gregg Hart and California State Assembly leaders are condemning Trump's ICE agents for their violent assault on a young disabled student in California.

On October 21, ICE agents attacked and injured Santa Maria High School student Erik Zepeda - a U.S. citizen - while walking to school. Erik, 20, is enrolled in an educational program for young adults with disabilities.

According to public officials, ICE agents tackled and detained Erik several blocks from his school, placed him in a vehicle, and drove around the neighborhood. After determining there was no basis to arrest him, the agents dropped him off at a random location and fled.

After the attack, Erik made his way to Santa Maria High School, where educators immediately called an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Erik suffered a broken wrist that required surgery, as well as a black eye, bruises, and lacerations. Beyond his physical injuries, he endured the trauma of being forcibly detained by ICE agents on his way to class.

"Erik is a U.S. citizen who was simply walking to school, and ICE agents broke his wrist. This is not immigration enforcement or public safety. It's reckless, indiscriminate violence, and it's indefensible," Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas said. "Our Assembly will continue to hold the Trump administration and ICE accountable."

- Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister)

"The Trump Administration's masked secret police have hit a new low-harming a young man with special needs who was on his way to school. The Trump Administration must hear us when we say: Our community stands with Erik and rejects the lawless, dangerous enforcement campaign that put Erik in harm's way. The case of Erik, a California-born American citizen, is a startling reminder of the disregard for the rule of law and common decency that we are seeing from the agents deployed on our streets. This cannot continue."

- Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara County)

"I condemn this disgusting, racially motivated attack by ICE on one of our students. School officials and families are rightly concerned because every time ICE lies and tells the public it was a case of a mistaken identity, someone innocent is always harmed, and no one is held accountable for these attacks," said Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale), incoming Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. "This special-needs student, with limited speech capabilities, has no immediate family based on news reports, to comfort them thru this. Would any of you want your own children to go through this kind of traumatic experience alone? Of course not," added Carrillo.

- Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, Vice Chair, California Legislative Latino Caucus (D-Palmdale)

"Californians keep living in fear because of ICE's lawless violence. Shame on ICE and the companies raking in billions from attacking our communities, including a disabled US citizen in Santa Maria on their way to school."

- Assemblymember Liz Ortega, Vice Chair, California Legislative Latino Caucus (D-San Leandro)

On Saturday evening, community members gathered for a rally to condemn Erik's detention and the violent tactics by ICE agents that resulted in his injuries. A representative from Assemblymember Hart's office spoke at the rally, alongside local officials and nonprofit partners.

Santa Maria High School, where Erik attends classes, is located just one block from Assemblymember Hart's Santa Maria District Office.

The California State Legislature passed nearly two dozen bills this year to protect Californians from the Trump Administration's heavy-handed, unconstitutional mass deportation campaign. Additionally, the Legislature has provided funding to the Attorney General to challenge the Trump Administration's immigration enforcement actions in court.

This year, Speaker Rivas and Assemblymember Hart, along with the members of the California Legislative Latino Caucus, also worked together to secure $15 million for the Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project (CHIRP). This funding supports children and young people who entered the United States through lawful processes but are now vulnerable to immigration enforcement actions.

Members of the public are encouraged to report misconduct by federal immigration authorities to the California Department of Justice here: https://oag.ca.gov/reportmisconduct. To learn more about resources available to immigrants, click here: https://oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.

Robert Rivas is the 71st Speaker of the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he represents the 29th Assembly District, which encompasses the Pajaro and Salinas valleys of the Central Coast.

Gregg Hart represents Santa Barbara County and southern San Luis Obispo County in the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he serves as Chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight and Co-Chair of the Central Coast Legislative Caucus.

Juan Carrillo represents the counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino in the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he serves as the Chair of the Committee on Local Government and Vice Chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus.

Assemblymember Liz Ortega represents all or a portion of the cities of Hayward, San Leandro, Union City, Dublin, Pleasanton and the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley. A Democrat, she serves as Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee and Vice Chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus.

CONTACT: Ethan Bertrand, District Director, Assemblymember Gregg Hart