Two workers at the Bubble Bath Car Wash in Torrance, California, were violently detained by approximately 20 masked federal agents, causing commotion among customers, employees and family members. The operation took place Sunday afternoon, without prior notice or visible identification from the officers.

According to KTLA, officers abruptly entered the business and pushed the owner toward the car wash while he questioned their authority. The owner, visibly upset in videos of the incident, yelled, "Who are you? You literally look like criminals." The detainees were identified as Hans Hernandez and Alfredo Vasquez, who had worked at the business for more than 15 years.

Owner and customer confront officers

In statements collected by KTLA, the car wash owner expressed his outrage, stating that both employees are honest people with no criminal record and did not deserve such treatment. “Why don't we go after the people who really cause problems?” I have asked.

During the same operation, a customer identified as Bertha Guzman also confronted the officers. One of them told him it was an "immigration inspection," but Guzmán reported that none of those present showed credentials.

In an interview with Univision, he explained that he advised one of the employees not to answer the officers' questions. "They weren't identifying themselves, and that's illegal to do," he stated.

Concern over the whereabouts of those detained

Hernández and Vásquez's relatives told KTLA that they do not know the whereabouts of the workers or the exact reason for their detention. Although they declined to comment on their immigration status, they emphasized that they are hard-working individuals with families.

In response to the operation, the Torrance Police Department issued a statement clarifying that it does not participate in federal immigration operations, in compliance with the California Values ????Act (SB 54). The agency said its officers do not cooperate with federal agencies in civil immigration raids or question people about their immigration status.

The case is part of a series of similar raids recently reported in Southern California, as part of more aggressive deportation policies implemented by the Trump administration.

The intervention of citizens like Bertha Guzmán and questions about the legality of the operation have once again brought to the table the debate on civil rights, transparency, and the use of force in these actions.