Federal Agents Surround Los Angeles Family's Car

Incident leaves 6-year-old son shaken and parents questioning agents' actions

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A video shows federal agents surrounding a Los Angeles family's car as they drove their six-year-old son to school on Wednesday morning. The parents, Jesus and Melanie Sanchez, said the agents did not explain why they were stopped and accused them of racial profiling, leaving the family in a state of panic and fear.

Why it matters

The incident has raised concerns about federal agents' treatment of minority communities and the impact on families, especially children, who experience such encounters. It also highlights ongoing debates around the role and oversight of immigration enforcement agencies like ICE.

The details

In the video, agents motion for the family's ID and at one point another agent steps out of a vehicle directly in front of the family's car. The Sanchezes said the agents told them they were not citizens, which the family disputed. The federal agents eventually left the scene without detaining anyone, but the family was left shaken, with the son having nightmares about the encounter.

  • The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as the family was driving their 6-year-old son to school.

The players

Jesus and Melanie Sanchez

A Los Angeles family who were stopped by federal agents while driving their 6-year-old son to school.

Rep. Luz Rivas

A California state representative who condemned the incident as racial profiling and called for the abolition of ICE.

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What they’re saying

“It was a total panic because, seeing their eyes, I distinguished that it seemed they were looking at me with hate. It was something terrible. It's horrible what's happening.”

— Jesus Sanchez (cbsnews.com)

“I feel like they were just there for one reason, to get us out. I don't know. It was just very scary.”

— Melanie Sanchez (cbsnews.com)

“The video of masked ICE agents racially profiling U.S. citizens in Arleta is horrifying and absolutely wrong. It is a terrifying reality that too many people, regardless of their citizenship status, are living through every day. ICE continues to be a threat to the safety of our neighbors, and they need to leave our communities alone. ICE must be abolished.”

— Rep. Luz Rivas, California State Representative (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Sanchez family said their son is still having nightmares about the encounter, and they are considering taking legal action against the federal agents involved.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about racial profiling and the aggressive tactics used by federal immigration enforcement agencies, which can have a traumatic impact on families, especially children. It underscores the need for greater oversight and accountability of these agencies to ensure the fair and humane treatment of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.