Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shot an illegal immigrant on Tuesday in Northern California, according to local authorities.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons shared a statement with the Washington Examiner, saying the officers were conducting a “targeted vehicle stop.”
“On April 7, 2026, ICE officers were conducting a targeted vehicle stop in Patterson, CA to arrest Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, an 18th Street Gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection to a murder,” Lyons said. “As officers approached the car, the wanted gang member weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over. Following their training, our officers fired defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public.”
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention. The condition of the person shot in Patterson, a city in California with a population of about 25,000, remains unknown.
The sheriff’s office confirmed no local law enforcement officers were injured or involved in the shooting, but its Major Crimes Unit is assisting with the investigation into the incident that caused mid-day disruptions on a major interstate highway.
“The closure of the Interstate 5 on and off ramps at Sperry Avenue remains in effect and there is currently no estimated time for reopening,” the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement hours later on Tuesday. “We will provide an update once the road closures have been lifted and the ramps are reopened.”
“We are aware of the information released by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons; however, we have no further details to provide regarding our involvement at this time,” the sheriff’s office added, directing all follow-up press inquiries to the FBI.
The FBI Sacramento Field Office said officials were responding to the scene.
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The incident comes as the Department of Homeland Security is operating without funding due to Democratic lawmakers’ objections to federal immigration enforcement operations.
The Washington Examiner contacted DHS and ICE for comment.
