FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2025
CONTACT
Sergio Infanzon
(323) 582-6161
[email protected]
City of Huntington Park Addresses Arrest Tied to Possible Federal Agent Impersonation, Raises Alarms Over Enforcement Transparency
HUNTINGTON PARK, CA — City officials today held a press conference to share new details about a recent arrest that has brought renewed focus to a growing public safety issue: the possible impersonation of federal agents operating in local communities without proper identification or oversight.
At approximately 10:00 p.m. on June 24, Huntington Park Police officers encountered a suspicious black Dodge Durango illegally parked in a handicap zone. Upon inspection, officers observed red -and-blue visor lights, mounted radios resembling police equipme nt, and a semi -automatic firearm magazine in plain view.
The driver, identified as Fernando Diaz, a resident of Los Angeles, returned to the vehicle from a nearby gym and claimed to be a former Customs and Border Protection agent but was unable to provide any valid credentials.
Police Chief Cosme Lozano confirmed that Diaz had an outstanding DUI warrant and was taken into custody.
A search of the vehicle uncovered further alarming items:
• A semi-automatic firearm and holster
• Official-looking documents labeled with “Homeland Security Investigations” and “Customs and Border Protection”
• Border Patrol radio codes
• Multiple copies of passports not belonging to the suspect
“This arrest raises serious concerns about public safety, organized criminal activity, and the urgent need for all enforcement personnel operating in our community to properly identify themselves,” said Chief Lozano. “What began as a routine citation has quickly turned into a far more disturbing investigation.”
During the press conference, Mayor Arturo Flores emphasized the broader implications for communities like Huntington Park, where many families are of mixed immigration status. “This isn’t just about one arrest—it’s about a pattern of encounters with individuals claiming to be federal agents who refuse to show identification, drive unmarked vehicles, and blur the line between law and intimidation,” said Mayor Flores. “We cannot allow fear to replace safety in our neighborhoods.”
The Mayor called on the Secretary of Homeland Security to address these enforcement practices directly, stating: “Masked agents and unmarked vehicles should not define how our government operates. If someone is enforcing federal law, they should be prepared to show it.”
In response, the City Council passed a resolution earlier this week directing the Huntington Park Police Department to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a federal immigration agent operating in the city.
Mayor Flores concluded with a powerful message: “Families in our city are living in fear —not because of the law, but because they can’t tell who’s behind the badge. We must restore trust, demand transparency, and stand for justice.”
The City has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. Officials are also looking into whether the suspect has any ties to organized crime.
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