Lawyer Slams FBI as Man Shot by ICE Is Arrested Immediately After Hospital Release

Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, a man shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an enforcement stop in central California, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on April 14, shortly after being released from the hospital.

Mendoza Hernandez's attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, said that federal authorities did not immediately share the charges against him.

Kolasinski said his client had undergone three surgeries following the shooting and that the family believes the incident was a case of mistaken identity.

According to a report by the CNN, last week, Mendoza Hernandez was shot during an ICE enforcement stop in central California. Shortly after his release from the hospital, the FBI arrested him.

Charges were not immediately disclosed upon arrest, but may be connected to a murder case.

Kolasinski disputed the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) claim that his client was a wanted gang member in El Salvador connected to a murder, noting that he had initially suggested the encounter may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons previously said agents fired "defensive shots" after Mendoza Hernandez allegedly attempted to run over an agent.

Kolasinski said the FBI issued a warrant for his client's arrest and transported him to Sacramento County jail to await charges.

At a news conference, Kolasinski said his client attempted to flee because he had been shot at and feared for his life during the encounter.

Meanwhile, DHS identified Mendoza Hernandez as an "18th Street Gang member" and said agents sought to question him in connection with a murder case.

Kolasinski said he received information indicating his client had previously faced criminal charges in El Salvador but was acquitted. "They cannot possibly have a warrant out for his arrest in (El) Salvador. That is a complete misstatement," he said.

According to the Associated Press, Kolasinski stated that he sought additional information about the arrest and expressed concern about his client's condition. "He should not be out of that hospital. He was in no condition to be released," Kolasinski said.

Authorities reportedly did not explain why Mendoza Hernandez was the target of the enforcement action.

Kolasinski further revealed that Mendoza Hernandez's fiancée visited him in the hospital over the weekend and the two had an emotional conversation.

The attorney also said that his client is a dual citizen of El Salvador and Mexico who came to the United States in 2019, though he said he was uncertain about his client's current legal immigration status and the manner in which he entered the country.