(The Hill) A U.S. citizen hurt during an immigration raid in Los Angeles has submitted a $50 million federal tort claim against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and two of its agencies, alleging “excessive force.”
Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79, claims he experienced several broken ribs, bruises, and signs of a traumatic brain injury after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reportedly slammed him to the ground earlier this month.
The operation targeted five individuals from Guatemala and Mexico on Sept. 9 at his car wash business, according to a DHS statement shared with The Associated Press. DHS mentioned Shouhed was initially detained for “impeding” a federal officer.
“What can I do for you? Can I help you?” Shouhed recalled saying to the officers, according to the AP.
He was then forcibly taken to the ground by three masked agents and temporarily detained, according to the claim. Shouhed was eventually released without any charges filed.
“This was an outrageous and unlawful assault on a 79-year-old American citizen in his own place of business,” stated V. James DeSimone, Shouhed’s attorney.
“Federal agents body slammed Mr. Shouhed, pinned him to the ground with a knee on his neck, ignored his requests for medical attention, and left him injured and in pain for hours. Their actions breached the Constitution, California civil rights law, and basic human decency.”
DHS has six months to review the claim and settle or deny before a federal lawsuit can be filed, the AP reported.
Shouhed’s action comes after another Los Angeles citizen filed a $1 million claim against DHS, ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in July following an arrest for recording a raid at a Home Depot store.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has said masked ICE agents have been terrorizing local communities and on Saturday signed a bill banning law enforcement officers from covering their faces. Once the law takes effect, those who do are liable to face civil penalties and a misdemeanor charge. The Trump administration has since ordered federal authorities to ignore the law, while DHS already said its officials won’t comply.
