Santa Ana Street Vendor Shares Experience with Border Patrol Detention Despite Having a Work Permit
Santa Ana Street Vendor Handcuffed Despite Having Valid Work Permit
An elderly street vendor in Santa Ana, known for selling Mexican snacks, reported being handcuffed by Border Patrol agents on Tuesday, despite holding a valid work permit. Francisco Bahena, 82, stated that the incident has left him traumatized and fearful of leaving his home.
In a cellphone video, a Fountain Valley police officer can be seen assisting Bahena by removing the handcuffs from his left hand while firefighters stood nearby. The footage also revealed cuts and bruises on Bahena’s right hand.
Leticia Morales, Bahena’s daughter, recounted that the encounter took place at the intersection of Edinger Avenue and Harbor Boulevard when federal agents attempted to detain her father. "I’m feeling sad because it’s not fair," she lamented.
Bahena, speaking to NBC Los Angeles in Spanish, explained that he informed the Border Patrol agents about his valid U Visa and city vending permit before they handcuffed him. He noted that once the agents verified his documentation, they struggled to remove the cuffs. "My hands began turning purple and felt numb," he said.
Morales provided photographs showing the bruising on her father’s hands. During the encounter, Bahena’s grandson called the Fountain Valley police to assist in removing the handcuffs.
The Department of Homeland Security did not comment specifically on the handcuffing but released a statement saying that local law enforcement was called to help due to a growing crowd and Bahena’s refusal to move to a safer area.
Morales added that her father is deeply unsettled by the incident, stating, "He’s scared. He doesn’t want to go back to the same place. It’s not the same." She mentioned that Bahena has been struggling to sleep since the event.
The Fountain Valley Police Department clarified that it was not involved in the Border Patrol operation but sought to assist Bahena by helping him remove the handcuffs.
