An immigration operation that occurred in Simi Valley on July 3 was a shocking moment for Henry Lopez and his girlfriend Maria Carmona as well as their loved ones.
Lopez, 28, and Carmona, 25, were inside a car on their way to work when they were pulled over by immigration officials, according to Steve Preciado, who has been friends with Lopez for years.
“It hurt the core of watching that,” said Preciado. “Trump’s talking about going after criminals. He’s far from a criminal.”
Cellphone video that captured the arrest showed agents pulling Lopez and Carmona out of the vehicle.
The couple, who have since been deported to Central America, showed Telemundo 52, NBCLA’s sister station, pictures of cuts and bruises they said they got during the arrest.
Carmona, now 4-month pregnant, said she has had abdominal pain since she was thrown to the ground by federal agents.
Preciado, Lopez’s long-time friend, said the deportation of the couple hit close to home for him as his parents were immigrants.
“My friends, both of them worked three jobs at a time to support us, to give us a good life,” Preciado said. “I just can’t stand by and watch this anymore.”
NBC Los Angeles reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to confirm details about the arrest and deportation.