In a shocking incident that unfolded at a Hollywood Home Depot, a U.S. citizen was wrongfully detained while recording a federal immigration operation targeting undocumented immigrants. The harrowing encounter, captured on video by 37-year-old Ph.D. student Real Garcia, has raised urgent questions about the aggressive tactics employed by immigration enforcement agents.

Garcia, who was at the store to pick up a delivery, witnessed federal agents swarm the parking lot, forcefully smashing a truck window to apprehend a man inside. But within moments, the focus shifted to him. “I thought this is it for me,” Garcia recalled, describing how agents tackled him, pinning him to the ground with their knees on his back, despite his previous surgeries. Witnesses shouted in disbelief as he hit the pavement, yet agents never checked his identification.

After being handcuffed and taken to a makeshift staging area near Dodgers Stadium, Garcia overheard agents casually discussing their arrests, referring to the number of individuals detained that day as if it were a game. He was then moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he spent nearly a full day behind bars before being released without charges.

Despite the trauma of the experience, Garcia expressed a willingness to endure it again if it meant helping others. “If I distracted somebody and allowed someone to run away, it was worth it,” he stated, indicating plans to pursue legal action against what he calls a blatant violation of his rights.

As the nation grapples with the implications of such aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, Garcia’s story serves as a stark reminder of the human impact behind the headlines. The silence from officials regarding the incident only adds to the urgency for accountability and transparency in immigration operations.