Southern California car wash owner files $50 million claim over injuries sustained during Van Nuys, Los Angeles immigration raid
A car wash owner in Southern California has filed a $50 million civil rights claim after being arrested and injured during an immigration raid at his business.
Surveillance video shows federal agents body slamming 79-year-old U.S. citizen Rafie Shouhed to the ground just outside of his car wash in Van Nuys, Los Angeles two weeks ago.
Shouhed says the agents stormed into his business and roughed him up after he attempted to ask what they needed. Video from inside the business shows an agent pushing him down.
He says that after he made it outside, the agents pummeled him again.
"They called themselves ICE people, which I don't believe they are ICE people," Shouhed said. "I have a heart condition. Three big people were sitting on my back. The way they held me down, sitting on me, and I asked them to let me go, which they absolutely would not pay no attention, and they took me to the detention center."
Shouhed says he was terrified as he tried to explain to the agents that his employees were authorized to be on the job, yet he says they took at least five of his employees away in handcuffs. He says he screamed that he is a United States citizen and had proof in his wallet, but he says they did not listen.
"I was begging them all along. The only words they said is, 'You don't F with ICE. You do not F with ICE. You do not F with ICE," Shouhed said.
Shouhed says he suffered multiple broken ribs, damage to his brain from being slammed headfirst into the ground and deep bruising and swelling to his arms from being restrained. He was detained at a federal detention center for nearly 12 hours before finally being released.
His family took him to the hospital, and his lawyer filed a civil rights claim seeking $50 million in damages.
"ICE and DHS violated their policies that day. They violated the U.S. Constitution. They violated California state law," said attorney V. James DeSimone. "We feel very confident that we are going to be able to achieve justice for Rafie Shouhed in a court of law."
"I didn't know where he was for hours, and with his heart condition and stents, they could have very easily caused his death," the car wash owner's wife, Debra Shouhed, said in tears. "It's very hurtful."
Eyewitness News reached out to federal officials about the civil rights claim, but has yet to hear back.
