Man Arrested in Huntington Park for Impersonating Federal Agent Amid Immigration Tensions

Huntington Park police arrested 23-year-old Fernando Diaz after discovering he may have been impersonating a federal immigration agent. Officers responded to a Dodge Durango illegally parked in a handicap zone and found the vehicle equipped with police-style radios, red and blue LED lights, and a loaded 9mm semi-automatic firearm. Diaz claimed to have worked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2022 but could not produce valid credentials, and investigators found multiple documents bearing federal agency letterheads, radio codes, unregistered passports, and other items indicative of potential criminal activity. He was taken into custody due to possession of an unlicensed firearm and an outstanding DUI warrant but was released on bail. The arrest comes amid heightened tensions and scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics, including agents operating without clear identification, leading to legislative proposals to ban law enforcement officers from concealing their faces during operations. Huntington Park officials have expressed concern over impersonation risks and the broader impact of immigration enforcement practices on local communities.