He was driving to work in San Bernardino on August 16 when federal immigration officers shattered his window and fired at his truck, prompting a standoff and ultimately his arrest on assault charges.
At a Glance
- On August 16, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers surrounded Francisco Longoria’s work truck and shattered its driver-side window
- The encounter escalated when CBP agents fired shots that struck the vehicle
- Longoria was arrested on August 29, 2025, and charged with assaulting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon
- His attorneys released surveillance footage they say contradicts federal claims that Longoria drove toward and injured officers
- Legal advocates and family members are demanding an investigation into the use of force during the incident
The Incident on August 16
On the morning of August 16, 2025, Francisco Longoria was driving to work in San Bernardino, accompanied by his son and son-in-law, when agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection attempted to detain him by surrounding his truck and smashing the driver-side window. Video released by his attorneys shows masked agents surrounding the vehicle, then breaking the glass, prompting Longoria to flee in fear. Shortly afterward, multiple shots were fired, and the truck sustained bullet damage.
Watch now: Video shows moments before federal agent opens fire… · YouTube
Federal officials later claimed that Longoria accelerated toward agents, injuring them in the process. His legal team argues that the released surveillance footage does not support this assertion.
Arrest and Charges
On August 29, 2025, Longoria was taken into federal custody, accused of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon—specifically, the truck he drove. According to reports, over a dozen armed federal agents, accompanied by an armored personnel carrier, arrived at Longoria’s residence for the arrest. Federal documents allege that two officers were injured during the earlier attempt to detain him, though no video evidence publicly released has shown this.
Longoria is being held without bond and is expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks. His immigration status may affect proceedings, though his attorneys emphasized that he has longstanding ties to the San Bernardino community.
Contested Narratives and Call for Inquiry
Longoria’s attorneys dispute the government’s version of events and have released surveillance video to challenge claims that he injured agents by driving toward them. They argue the footage demonstrates that the agents escalated the encounter by using force before identifying themselves. Legal observers have noted that the tactics used—smashing windows and firing on a fleeing vehicle—raise questions about proportionality and procedural compliance.
Civil rights advocates and Longoria’s family members are calling for an independent investigation into the use of force during the attempted arrest. They have petitioned for oversight from the Department of Justice or an internal CBP review, citing concerns about accountability and public safety during operations carried out in residential neighborhoods.
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