U.S. Citizen Detained After Filming Immigration Raids in LA Seeks $1 Million in Damages in Lawsuit Againsta Federal Government

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) has filed a claim against several federal agencies on behalf of Job Garcia, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen who was detained after filming a June 19 immigration raid outside a Home Depot in Hollywood. The plaintiff is demanding $1 million in damages.

The claim, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, names CBP, ICE, and other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies. It is the required first step before a formal lawsuit can proceed.

Garcia, a photographer and doctoral student at Claremont Graduate University, was working as a delivery driver when he began recording U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detaining individuals in the parking lot. MALDEF alleges that federal agents tackled Garcia, threw him to the ground, and detained him for over 24 hours without probable cause.

In a statement released on its official site, MALDEF's president Thomas A. Saenz explained the reasoning behind the motion:

"When government engages in widespread violation of individual rights with respect to immigrants without status, the harm inevitably spills over and spreads to others; that is why we must insist, as a society, on respect for the rights of everyone. Here, a citizen, acting in the best traditions of our democracy, was engaged in documenting government misconduct to encourage policy change; he was wrongfully arrested and detained because of his race and his heroic efforts"

According to the claim, Garcia was documenting the raid when he saw agents surround a truck and break its window. Garcia and others urged the driver not to open the door. MALDEF states that without warning, an agent lunged at Garcia, seized his phone, and forced him to the ground. "Mr. Garcia felt that his breathing was restricted and momentarily feared that he may be killed in this position," the claim says.

Garcia was later transferred to Dodger Stadium, where he told the LA Times back on June 20 that he overheard agents celebrating the number of arrests: "Oh, we grabbed 31... That was a good day today," followed by high-fives. "Border Patrol and ICE punished me for informing others of their rights and exercising my own rights," Garcia said added in the MALDEF statement.

He was eventually taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles and released the next day without charges or a court date.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in an emailed statement to NBC News that Garcia "assaulted and verbally harassed a federal agent and that he was subdued and arrested for the alleged assault." She repeated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's warning that anyone who lays a hand on a law enforcement officer will be fully prosecuted.