El Monte Police release body cam footage of ICE confrontation with resident

Video shows officers arriving to 'de-escalate' encounter between local woman and federal immigration agents

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The city of El Monte has released body camera footage of an officer's arrival on the scene of a local resident's encounter with federal immigration agents during a stop in the city that has sparked outrage and fear in the heavily Latino community. The footage revolves around immigration agents' January 30 arrest of El Monte resident Maria Santay, moments before they are said to have 'extracted' her from her car and took her into custody.

Why it matters

The incident has raised concerns about the role of local police in federal immigration enforcement actions, with the El Monte mayor calling for more transparency and accountability. The release of the body camera footage aims to provide additional context, but has also caused the resident involved to 'relive' the traumatic encounter.

The details

The video shows an El Monte police officer arriving on the scene, where at least five masked federal agents in body armor were already present. The officers tried to de-escalate the situation and get Santay to roll down her window, explaining they were not there to assist the federal agents. However, Santay was reluctant to comply, fearing the agents would take her into custody. Ultimately, the federal agents broke Santay's car window and arrested her on suspicion of 'assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees and conspiracy to impede or injure officer'.

  • On January 30, 2026, federal immigration agents arrested El Monte resident Maria Santay.
  • On February 13, 2026, the city of El Monte released body camera footage of the incident.

The players

Maria Santay

An El Monte resident who was arrested by federal immigration agents on January 30, 2026.

El Monte Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the incident and released the body camera footage.

Jessica Ancona

The mayor of El Monte who called for transparency and accountability following the incident.

Jake Fisher

The El Monte Police Chief who said the video was released to provide additional context and clarity on the department's actions.

Customs and Border Protection

The federal agency that requested assistance from the El Monte Police Department during the incident.

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What they’re saying

“Relax”

— El Monte Police Officer (sgvtribune.com)

“Ma'am. We're El Monte police. We're not them. It's just us.”

— El Monte Police Officer (sgvtribune.com)

“You can't follow them. Otherwise, they are going to call us. And we don't want to get involved in it.”

— El Monte Police Officer (sgvtribune.com)

“You can put that away. Don't point that near me.”

— El Monte Police Officer (sgvtribune.com)

“what happened to Maria Santay caused real fear in our community — and our residents deserve answers, accountability and humanity.”

— Jessica Ancona, Mayor of El Monte (sgvtribune.com)

What’s next

The El Monte City Council is expected to further discuss the incident and the police department's response at an upcoming meeting.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the complex and often tense relationship between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, as well as the impact these confrontations can have on immigrant communities. The release of the body camera footage aims to provide transparency, but has also reignited calls for more accountability and support for residents affected by these actions.