Photo: U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested four men on Tuesday in Van Nuys on suspicion of interfering with immigration enforcement operations. The men, identified as Jenaro-Ernesto Ayala, Jude Jasmine Jeannine Allard, Sadot Jarnica, and Daniel Montenegro, allegedly placed homemade tire spikes intended to disable law enforcement vehicles, according to federal authorities.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Ayala and Allard are advocates for day laborers and were arrested in a Home Depot parking lot while observing an immigration raid. They were associated with the Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur De California (IDEPSCA), which operates a day labor center in the area. IDEPSCA's executive director, Meagean Ortiz, expressed skepticism about the federal government's accusations, stating, "I have not seen any evidence of what the federal government is accusing my staff of doing."
Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory K. Bovino shared images of the tire spikes on social media and confirmed the arrests. The case has been referred to the U.S. attorney’s office for further action, as reported on X .
According to Breitbart, the tire spikes were found alongside a tote bag bearing the logo of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), an organization advocating for immigration reform. The incident follows another protest against immigration operations in Los Angeles earlier in the week.
IDEPSCA and other community advocates held a news conference demanding the release of the arrested individuals and condemning what they describe as "federal intimidation tactics."