Homeland Security Counters Media Criticism of Immigrant Father’s Arrest in Democratic Stronghold

In a confrontation that has sparked heated debate, the Department of Homeland Security has forcefully pushed back against a Los Angeles Times report about immigration agents detaining a U.S. citizen and his child during an enforcement operation in Los Angeles.

The incident occurred at a Home Depot in the Cypress Park neighborhood, where Border Patrol officials detained Dennis Quinonez, a 32-year-old U.S. citizen who had his one-year-old child in his car. The Los Angeles Times initially reported that “after two agents climbed into his car — along with their weapons — they drove off with the child as onlookers protested,” painting a picture that suggested potential overreach by federal agents.

However, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin delivered a sharp rebuke to this characterization, responding directly to an LA Times reporter on social media. “Oh ffs sake, Brittny. This U.S. citizen left his own child unattended in a car and proceeded to attack law enforcement as they were conducting an operation—he exited his car wielding a hammer and threw rocks at law enforcement as he abandoned his child,” McLaughlin wrote.

According to DHS, the situation was far more complex than initially portrayed. The agency stated that Quinonez “allegedly exited his vehicle wielding a hammer and threw rocks at law enforcement while he had a child in his car.” Officials also reported finding a pistol in his car during the arrest—a weapon reportedly stolen from New York—and noted Quinonez had an active warrant for property damage.

Federal prosecutors have since charged Quinonez with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person previously convicted of domestic violence, adding another layer to the case that extends beyond immigration enforcement.

The confrontation highlights the increasingly tense atmosphere surrounding immigration enforcement operations in California, a state that has frequently positioned itself in opposition to federal immigration policies. Local immigrant rights activists have criticized the agents’ actions regardless of the circumstances, with one quoted in the LA Times saying, “The fact that they were getting into that car, heavily armed, with masks on their face, they put that toddler in extreme danger.”

Maria Avalos, identified as the child’s grandmother, expressed concern about the agents taking the child, reportedly questioning if “they were kidnapping her.” The child has since been reunited with family members.

The LA Times defended its reporting when contacted by Fox News Digital, stating, “We stand by this story,” and claiming that “all the information that DHS cited is prominently reported in the story.” Indeed, deeper in the article, the Times did note that “agents decided to drive Quinonez and his daughter separately to another location, where agents determined that the handgun was loaded with five rounds of ammunition.”

This incident occurs against the backdrop of increasing immigration enforcement actions nationwide and growing tensions between federal authorities and communities with large immigrant populations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations in metropolitan areas have frequently drawn protests, particularly in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The conflicting narratives highlight the polarized nature of the immigration debate in America, where even factual reporting about enforcement operations can become contested territory. For federal authorities, ensuring public safety while executing their duties remains the stated priority, while immigrant advocates continue to question the methods and impact of enforcement actions on communities.

As both sides defend their positions, the incident underscores how immigration enforcement operations remain one of the most contentious aspects of domestic policy, with each side interpreting the same events through dramatically different lenses.