Unmarked car (File Photo – Screenshot)
State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) and Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores are calling for urgent action following the arrest of a man accused of impersonating a federal immigration agent in Huntington Park.
By News Desk
The suspect was driving a vehicle that police initially mistook for an official law enforcement car, intensifying concerns over a rise in police impersonation cases. Senator Pérez, who introduced SB 805—the “No Vigilantes Act”—this week, said the incident highlights the urgent need to strengthen California’s laws against impersonating law enforcement officers.
“This arrest shows why we need to pass SB 805, the No Vigilantes Act,” said Pérez. “We must protect Californians from police impersonations as we are seeing a rise in these incidents and heightened fear and confusion created by Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown.”
Pérez emphasized that the suspect’s vehicle appeared so convincingly official that even trained officers were initially misled until a license plate check revealed the truth. Her proposed legislation would require all law enforcement personnel operating in California to clearly display identifying information, such as a name or badge number—standards already applied to local police.
“This is especially vital now,” she added, “as we’re seeing unidentifiable individuals claiming to be law enforcement exhibiting unprofessional behavior and unorthodox tactics.”
Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores echoed the senator’s concerns, pointing to a troubling pattern of similar encounters.
“This isn’t just about one arrest, it’s about a pattern of encounters with individuals claiming to be federal agents who refuse to show identification, drive unmarked vehicles, and blur the line between law and intimidation,” said Flores. “Families in our city are living in fear, not because of the law, but because they can’t tell who’s behind the badge. We must restore trust, demand transparency, and stand for justice.”
The incident and the proposed legislation come at a time when many communities, especially those with mixed immigration status, are reporting increased anxiety around law enforcement impersonators and their tactics.
SB 805 is currently awaiting committee hearings in the California State Legislature.
I hope Pasadena follows Huntington Park’s example in effective, courageous defense of their people.
I applaud Senator Pérez and Mayor Flores for demonstrating true leadership in this time of crisis.