The 20-year-old US citizen spoke from his home Wednesday after being detained by federal agents at the Pico Rivera Shopping Mall and was detained in prison three nights.
Adrian Martinez was arrested by federal agents on June 19 during immigration enforcement work in the Walmart parking lot at Pico Rivera Town Center.
Martinez, an employee at Walmart, says he was on a break when he saw a maintenance man who needed help.
“Of course, the guy was getting older and he looked scared, which made me feel sick,” Martinez said. “I pulled the car to the side and said, ‘That’s not right, what are you guys doing? Leave that poor man alone. He’s not doing anything wrong, he’s just hardworking.”
Surveillance cameras captured the entire incident as federal agents ran through the Pico Rivera Town Center and chased after the maintenance man. This video shows Martinez moving the maintenance man’s cart in front of a truck of a federal agent.
“They remember what they say is getting him, I look at me, the guy pushes me, then he knocks me on the floor, then I remember what’s in front of me. “What I remember from that point is pulling the back of my neck to get me in the van.”
Martinez says that after the agent asked her to call her mother, she instructed her to stay quiet.
After Martinez’s arrest, US lawyer Bill Essayli said the 20-year-old punched a Border Patrol officer in his face. However, no assault charges were filed.
Many people are scared and angry at immigration agents in their communities. Lauren Coronado reports on NBC4 News at 6am on June 18, 2025.
“Mr. Martinez was hampering these operations,” the essayri said. “Inhibiting or getting in the way of their investigations is against federal law. If you do so, you will be arrested and charged with a federal crime. If you assault an officer, you will be arrested and charged with a federal crime.
After spending three days in downtown Los Angeles prison, Martinez is now facing federal accusations for a conspiracy to block federal officers.
“All I was doing was sticking to people I couldn’t speak to myself, so I’ll do it again,” Martinez said. “The fact that they go for hardworking workers, just working people, people trying to make a living, I don’t think that’s right.”
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