Sacramento Man Charged After Border Patrol Vehicle Vandalism During Immigration Raid

Jose Manuel Castillo Jr., a 31-year-old Sacramento resident and volunteer with the group NorCal Resist, has been charged with depredation of government property for allegedly puncturing the rear passenger tire of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicle during an immigration enforcement operation at a Home Depot parking lot in Sacramento on July 17. Federal prosecutors allege Castillo refused multiple commands to move away while shouting obscenities at agents as they arrested undocumented immigrants, then approached the vehicle before the tire was punctured. After fleeing, Castillo was caught and searched, with a folding pocketknife found on him that matched the tire puncture's size. Castillo’s wife recorded video of the incident, claiming he was documenting the arrests and is a U.S. citizen, but the Department of Justice maintains he obstructed the agents. Castillo faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted, though he is not currently in custody and is awaiting a court date. The operation resulted in the arrest of 11 undocumented individuals, according to the Department of Homeland Security.