During an immigration enforcement operation in Cypress Park, Los Angeles, on November 4, 2025, federal agents apprehended a man while his toddler daughter remained in the vehicle. Witnesses reported that armed agents drove off in the U.S. citizen’s SUV with the 1-year-old strapped in the backseat, prompting protests from bystanders.
The incident began when 32-year-old Dennis Quinonez allegedly exited his vehicle outside a Home Depot with a hammer and threw rocks at the agents. According to a criminal complaint filed by federal officials, they observed Quinonez place the hammer in the trunk of his SUV before confronting him. As agents boxed in the vehicle to prevent his escape, Quinonez exited the car and shouted that his daughter was inside.
In response to the escalating situation, agents moved both Quinonez and his daughter to a different location to keep them together. However, during this process, an agent spotted a handgun wrapped in a blue bandana within the vehicle. The agents subsequently transported them separately to another location where the firearm was discovered to be loaded with five rounds of ammunition and reported stolen from New York State.
Quinonez, who has a prior conviction for domestic violence in Los Angeles County, faces charges for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Federal officials confirmed that he cannot legally possess a gun. He reportedly claimed the firearm belonged to a friend and admitted to throwing rocks at the agents, believing they were from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Linda Toczylowski, a representative from the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, criticized the actions of the armed agents, stating, “It should shock everyone’s conscience that we have masked armed men behaving like that with a U.S. citizen father and a toddler who were just going to run an errand at Home Depot on a random Tuesday.”
The child has since been returned to family members. Her grandmother, Maria Avalos, described the distressing condition in which she received her granddaughter, stating that the girl had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. Avalos expressed concern over the trauma the child experienced, saying, “She was exhausted and cried.”
Following the incident, California Governor Gavin Newsom commented on social media, sharing a report of the event and stating, “This is sick.”
In addition to Quinonez, five other undocumented immigrants were arrested during the operation, which involved agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS officials noted that these individuals had various criminal records, including charges for driving without a license and prior deportations from the United States.
The circumstances surrounding this incident have drawn significant attention, highlighting the complexities of immigration enforcement and the potential impact on families involved in such operations.
