By The Miller Law Group | July 10, 2025

The following is a summary of an article published by People magazine on July 9, 2025, titled “U.S. Citizen Recounts Detention by ICE After Defending Elderly Man: ‘Treating Us Worse Than Animals’.” The story highlights a disturbing civil rights incident that occurred in Pico Rivera, California and raises serious questions about immigration enforcement tactics and the treatment of U.S. citizens by masked agents.

A Routine Workday Turned Nightmare

20-year-old Adrian Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Walmart employee, was wrongfully detained by ICE agents on June 17. Adrian had begun questioning an ICE raid at his store after witnessing agents harassing an elderly janitor. Despite having done nothing wrong, Martinez was thrown to the ground, handcuffed, and taken into custody for allegedly assaulting an ICE agent.

What followed, as detailed in the article, was a three-day ordeal in ICE detention: Adrian Martinez was stripped of his belongings and denied access to a phone or legal representation. The holding cell, as he described, was “soaked in urine” because there was no bathroom and detainees were chained together by their ankles and wrists and forced to sit on the floor.

When Adrian’s mother, Myra Villarreal, got a text from her daughter about the circulating videos, she rushed to the ICE detention center in downtown Los Angeles searching frantically for her son. However, when she was finally “able to speak to someone and show them Adrian’s birth certificate, they told [her] her wasn’t there”. ICE denied knowledge of his whereabouts until video footage of the arrest circulated widely online and Martinez was connected with pro bono legal representation by The Miller Law Group. With growing public outrage and the help of his attorneys, Martinez was ultimately released 3 days later on bond and the assault charges were dropped, though he still faces a felony charge of conspiracy to impede a federal officer.

Martinez denies attacking any agents and said he was simply standing up for someone being mistreated. Video and surveillance footage reviewed by several media outlets does not appear to show Martinez striking any ICE agents.

At The Miller Law Group, we are proud to represent individuals like Adrian Martinez who stand up for what is right, even under threat. We will continue advocating for civil rights and justice—both in the courtroom and in our communities.

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Read the full article from People here:
U.S. Citizen Recounts Detention by ICE After Defending Elderly Man

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Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been unlawfully detained, or if you’re seeking legal counsel in matters of immigration, civil rights, or criminal defense, contact The Miller Law Group at (626) 240‑0714 or email press@themillerlaw.com.