Santa Maria City Leadership & State Lawmakers Publicly Condemn Federal Detention of Citizen Student
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - City of Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County leaders have increased public scrutiny and interagency coordination following an ICE detention a week ago.
Santa Maria city leadership issued a formal public address, joining county and state lawmakers in condemning the federal action.
He sustained severe injuries, including a wrist broken in three places that required surgery.
Accounts from school officials, family advocates and surveillance footage corroborate that ICE agents tackled, handcuffed and placed Erik Zepeda into a vehicle during a targeted enforcement operation before releasing him roughly a mile away from campus.
Zepeda, who has limited verbal communication skills due to a disability, walked the remaining distance to Santa Maria High School, where administrators immediately summoned an ambulance.
Santa Maria Police Chief Christopher Williams confirmed that law enforcement obtained local grocery store surveillance footage of the encounter and provided the evidence to state and federal investigators.
Chief Williams remains in communication with investigating bodies, including the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, the California Attorney General's Office and ICE's Los Angeles office.
The City of Santa Maria issued a public address regarding resident concerns following the incident.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch issued a similar public statement regarding the case, describing the reports as “deeply troubling.”
Savrnoch confirmed that his office is actively coordinating with the Santa Maria Police Department and relevant authorities to review the use of force.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials defended the action, stating that agents were conducting a targeted operation and approached an individual they believed matched a target profile.
School district officials, legal advocates and local representatives have challenged ICE's description of events, pointing to hospital records, Zepeda's disability and communication profile and corroborating video evidence.
Community rallies and student-led advocacy events have continued across Santa Barbara County as local institutions press for a transparent, independent review of the encounter.
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