Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shot an illegal immigrant on Tuesday in Northern California, according to local authorities.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons shared a statement with the Washington Examiner, saying the officers were conducting a “targeted vehicle stop.”
“On April 7, 2026, ICE officers were conducting a targeted vehicle stop in Patterson, CA to arrest Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, an 18th Street Gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection to a murder,” Lyons said. “As officers approached the car, the wanted gang member weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over. Following their training, our officers fired defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public.”
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention. The condition of the person shot in Patterson, a city in California with a population of 25,000, remains unknown.
The sheriff’s office confirmed no local law enforcement officers were involved in the shooting, but the office is assisting with the incident that caused disruptions on a major interstate highway.
“The on and off ramps on I-5 and Sperry Ave are closed, and they are expected to be closed for the remainder of the day,” the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook in part. “Motorists should expect significant delays and avoid the area.”
It promised to provide further updates once more information becomes known.
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The incident comes as the Department of Homeland Security is operating without funding due to Democratic lawmakers’ objections to federal immigration enforcement operations.
The Washington Examiner contacted the DHS and ICE for comment.