Mayor Accuses ICE Of Abduction After Gardener Nabbed In Long Beach Tells Agents He’s A Dual Citizen: Report

LONG BEACH, CA — A gardener being detained in Long Beach Tuesday told U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents he was a dual citizen, a video of the incident provided to multiple media outlets shows.

Agents detained two gardeners in Long Beach’s University Park Estates neighborhood at about 9:30 a.m., the Long Beach Post first reported.

As ICE agents approached the area, a garbage truck driver began honking to alert the gardeners, witnesses told the news outlet.

One gardener remained in place and was detained by agents, while another fled but was ultimately detained by agents as well, according to witnesses.

“I’m a America citizen here,” the man says as he is being detained by agents, a video of the incident shared by NBC Los Angeles shows.

“Where’s your documents?” an agent asks in the video. “Let me see your paperwork.”

The agent goes on to ask the man where he was born, to which the man responds, “memorial hospital in Long Beach.”

Agents then pull an identification card from the man’s pocket, the video from NBC Los Angeles shows.

“This says Mexico,” the agent says in Spanish while holding the card.

“I'm a dual citizen,” the man responds in Spanish.

“Ok. We’ll investigate it,” the agent says in the video.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to Patch’s request for comment.

In a Facebook post, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson referred to the ICE operation as an “abduction,” adding that he found it “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”

“It reflects a pattern of enforcement rooted in fear and intimidation—and it has no place in our city. ICE does not belong here,” Richardson said. “Targeting people on their way to work undermines public safety and harms entire neighborhoods.”

Richardson said city officials were not given prior notice of ICE activity.

“Witnesses report that a U.S. citizen may have been detained,” Richardson said. “If true, this is extremely serious and demands immediate answers and accountability.”

Richardson has been vocal about condemning ICE enforcement activity, calling federal agents’ actions “unacceptable” and demanding they leave the city.

In November, Richardson accused federal agents of "violently" ambushing a gardener working outside Polly's Pies on Atlantic Avenue.

“Chaos and brutality on our streets like this is unacceptable,” Richardson said. “Workers in our city deserve a chance to make an honest living.”