01-07-2025
Distressing video shows ICE agents seize California mother while her children cling to her arms
A mother was filmed being seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while her distressed adult children clung to her arms in a bid to stop her from being taken.
The woman, identified as Rosalina Luna Vargas, was seen in video shared by a stunned witness being swept up on the streets of Pasadena, California at around 7:30am Saturday.
Vargas's sons Bayardo and Alejandro held onto their mother as masked ICE agents tried to take her into custody, demanding to see a warrant that the agents apparently didn't have.
'We're not going to let her go! Get your hands off my mom!' they could be heard saying. 'Let me see a warrant.'
A witness who shared the video online said one of the agents claimed to have a warrant but did not show it.
Vargas' immigration status is unclear and her family claim she was lifted in a case of mistaken identity.
All her children are US citizens.
Pasadena Police were called to the scene by a witness who reported what she believed to be a kidnapping, and Pasadena Fire also responded to evaluate Vargas, who declined to go to hospital, reports ABC7.
At one point during the altercation that was not caught on camera, Vargas got away from the agents and ran to the Del Mar Park Assisted Living facility, where an employee told the agents they could not remain on private property without a warrant.
Vargas's sons Bayardo and Alejandro (pictured together) held onto their mother as masked ICE agents tried to take her into custody in the footage
When the agents returned with a warrant, one of Vargas' children alleged that it was for a different person. ICE agents took Vargas anyway.
The footage quickly circulated Vargas' community in California and sparked an outpouring of support, with locals holding a rally on Monday to condemn the 'senseless aggression of the Trump administration.'
Vargas' son Bayardo, 20, broke down as he addressed the crowd at the event, and said he is now the legal guardian for his brother Alejandro, 17, with their mother in custody.
'It's been a very traumatic experience for me and my brother and my family,' he said.
'I was just gonna try to defend my mother as best as I can and will do that til the end of time.'
Alejandro added: 'She's a hard-working woman, main breadwinner, everything, the whole nine yards. And out of all the people I know, she doesn't deserve this, nor does any other family in this community.'
Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris told ABC7 that the agents were found to be legitimate ICE agents after the witness called in a kidnapping.
'Officers and a Supervisor responded to evaluate the circumstances and discovered it was an ICE operation and PPD verified their identification,' he said.
'The agents detained one female without incident and PPD did not assist ICE in the apprehension as PPD was solely there for the call for service.'
Harris added that cops remained at the scene due to the commotion to 'provide for public safety as a small group gathered.'
After it was allegedly discovered that the warrant was for a different person, the witness said on Reddit, where they posted the video, that Vargas was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time.'
At the rally on Monday, Reverend Patricia O'Reilly led members of the local clergy to show support for Vargas and her family.
'I think it's horrendous that this woman was picked up. They said they had a warrant. Evidently, it was for someone else. She was picked up on private property,' she said.
'This is outrageous - this is not our country.'
According to ABC7, six Republican State Senators in California sent a letter to President Trump following Vargas' arrest urging him to stop raiding workplaces and sweeping up people like Vargas.
The group of Republicans urged Trump to focus his deportation crackdown on people with criminal records.
