URGENT UPDATE: During a shocking immigration enforcement operation in Cypress Park, Los Angeles, federal agents drove off with a toddler in the backseat of her father’s vehicle on November 4, 2025. Witnesses say the child, just 1 year old, was strapped in as agents detained her father, Dennis Quinonez, prompting protests from onlookers.
The incident escalated rapidly outside a Home Depot shortly after Quinonez exited his vehicle wielding a hammer and allegedly throwing rocks at the agents. As federal officials moved to secure the area, Quinonez yelled that his daughter was inside the SUV, which only intensified the chaotic scene. Witnesses recorded the distressing episode as the crowd swelled, and officials attempted to keep father and daughter together while also addressing a potential threat.
According to a criminal complaint, federal agents observed Quinonez place the hammer in the trunk of his SUV before they boxed him in with their vehicles. As they detained him, one agent discovered a loaded handgun wrapped in a blue bandana inside the vehicle. The firearm, reportedly stolen from New York State, had five rounds of ammunition, making Quinonez’s situation more precarious. He is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for domestic violence.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated, “He was arrested for assault, and during his arrest, a pistol was found in his car.” Quinonez faces charges for unlawful firearm possession and has an active warrant for property damage. Officials confirmed that five other undocumented immigrants were detained at the same location, with records including DUI and previous deportations.
The child’s grandmother, Maria Avalos, expressed horror after viewing footage of the incident. In her statement to MSNBC, she revealed, “When I picked up my granddaughter from federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried.” The toddler has since been returned to family members, but the emotional toll of the event remains profound.
In response to the incident, California Governor Gavin Newsom shared his outrage on social media, simply stating, “This is sick.” The situation raises significant concerns about the conduct of federal agents and the treatment of U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement actions.
Linda Toczylowski from the Immigrant Defenders Law Center commented on the implications of such operations, 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.”
As the legal proceedings unfold, Quinonez’s future and the broader ramifications of this incident are being closely monitored. The community is left grappling with the immediate impact of federal immigration enforcement tactics on families and the potential dangers involved.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.
