Attorney Disputes ICE's Account of Shooting During Arrest in California

Lawyer says client did not try to run over officers, disputes claims of outstanding warrant in El Salvador

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:18am

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A photorealistic painting of an ICE enforcement vehicle parked alone on a quiet urban street, the warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene and creating a sense of solitude and tension.The aggressive tactics used by federal immigration agents during arrests have sparked renewed scrutiny and concerns over public safety.Modesto Today

An attorney for a man shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during an arrest in central California said his client did not try to run over officers with his car and disputed claims that he has a warrant out for his arrest in El Salvador. The Department of Homeland Security said ICE agents fired defensive shots at Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez after he tried to drive into them, but the lawyer said Mendoza was simply trying to flee and did not intend to hit the officers.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions and questions around the use of force by federal immigration authorities, with the lawyer's account contradicting the official DHS version of events. It also raises concerns about the accuracy of information used to justify ICE arrests and the treatment of immigrants during enforcement actions.

The details

According to the lawyer, Patrick Kolasinski, Mendoza has no criminal record in the U.S. and was not the subject of an arrest warrant in El Salvador, where he was previously acquitted of murder. Kolasinski said Mendoza was simply trying to flee when the agents opened fire, and that the officers endangered everyone by opening the car door when Mendoza tried to drive away. Dashcam footage obtained by a local TV station shows the incident, but without sound, making it difficult to determine exactly what happened.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 8, 2026 in Patterson, California.
  • Mendoza was recently stopped for a minor traffic infraction in another town prior to this incident.

The players

Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez

A 36-year-old man who was shot by ICE agents during an arrest in central California. His attorney disputes claims that he has a warrant out for his arrest in El Salvador and says he has no criminal record in the U.S.

Patrick Kolasinski

The attorney representing Mendoza and his family, who is disputing the DHS account of the incident.

Cindy

Mendoza's fiancée, who did not provide her last name out of fear for her safety due to the attention on the case. She said the Trump administration's immigration crackdown is hurting families.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that conducted the enforcement action targeting Mendoza, which resulted in him being shot by agents.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency that oversees ICE and provided the initial account of the incident, claiming Mendoza tried to drive into the agents.

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What they’re saying

“If he was released after being acquitted, with no other holds on him, he cannot have a warrant. So that information must be either erroneous or completely made up. And only DHS knows what they're looking at.”

— Patrick Kolasinski, Attorney representing Mendoza

“He's a good guy. He's a hardworking person.”

— Cindy, Mendoza's fiancée

“He is doing everything he can to not run them over.”

— Patrick Kolasinski, Attorney representing Mendoza

What’s next

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office said the FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting incident.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions and questions around the use of force by federal immigration authorities, with the lawyer's account contradicting the official DHS version of events. It also raises concerns about the accuracy of information used to justify ICE arrests and the treatment of immigrants during enforcement actions.