A U.S. citizen who was shot by a federal immigration officer in California has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $25 million in damages from the federal government, San Bernardino County, and several law enforcement officials.
The man, Carlos Jimenez, was shot during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Ontario, California, on October 30, 2025. He is a father of three and reportedly continues to suffer from injuries caused by the shooting.
The lawsuit, filed on November 6, 2026, accuses federal officers of using excessive force, wrongful arrest, and malicious prosecution. It also raises serious questions about how Jimenez was treated after he was taken to a hospital.
The legal action comes just days after a federal judge dismissed the criminal charges previously brought against him. However, the dismissal did not establish that the officers involved had acted unlawfully.
What Happened During the ICE Shooting in California?
The incident took place on the morning of October 30, 2025, in Ontario, a city located east of Los Angeles.
According to Jimenez’s legal complaint, he was driving to work at a local food pantry when he noticed federal immigration officers conducting an operation near a neighborhood bus stop.
His lawyers say he stopped to inform the officers that children would soon be gathering at the nearby bus stop. He reportedly wanted them to finish their operation before children arrived in the area.
The lawsuit claims that Jimenez approached the officers calmly and attempted to explain the situation.
However, the encounter allegedly became tense within moments.
According to the complaint, an ICE officer identified as Eusebio Ortiz pointed a firearm toward Jimenez and threatened to shoot if he did not leave the area.
Jimenez allegedly attempted to follow the officer’s instructions and turn his vehicle around. His lawyers argue that the officers’ vehicles were blocking parts of the road, making it difficult for him to leave normally.
The lawsuit claims that Ortiz then fired multiple shots into Jimenez’s vehicle without warning.
Jimenez was struck in the back and right shoulder. The injuries were serious, and the lawsuit says bullet fragments remained lodged near his lung.
These details represent the account presented by Jimenez and his legal team. Federal authorities have offered a different explanation of the shooting.
Federal Authorities Dispute Jimenez’s Account
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, defended the officer’s actions after the incident.
A DHS spokesperson said Jimenez had attempted to run over federal officers by reversing his vehicle toward them without stopping.
The department described the shooting as a defensive response to a threat against law enforcement personnel.
Federal prosecutors also presented a similar account in the criminal case against Jimenez.
According to the government’s complaint, Jimenez allegedly accelerated his vehicle in reverse toward a Border Patrol officer and another vehicle that had been stopped during the operation.
However, Jimenez’s lawyers strongly disputed these allegations.
They argued that he was attempting to escape a tense encounter rather than deliberately target federal officers. His legal team also questioned whether the use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances.
The conflicting accounts have become a central issue in the legal dispute.
Determining exactly what happened during the encounter will be important as the civil lawsuit moves forward.
Lawsuit Raises Questions About Treatment at Hospital
Jimenez’s complaint also describes what allegedly happened after he was shot.
According to the lawsuit, FBI agents followed him to a local hospital and interfered with his medical treatment.
The filing alleges that agents prevented Jimenez from speaking freely with healthcare workers. It also claims that an FBI agent pulled a nurse away and removed Jimenez from his hospital bed.
The lawsuit further states that officers placed him in a waist restraint and transported him back to the shooting location for questioning.
At that time, bullet fragments reportedly remained inside his body.
Jimenez’s legal team alleges that he continued bleeding and vomiting during the journey. The complaint also describes an incident in which agents allegedly told him not to damage their vehicle.
After the questioning, Jimenez was taken to West Valley Detention Center.
The lawsuit claims that he did not receive adequate medical care while in custody.
These allegations form an important part of the civil case. They raise questions about the treatment of an injured person during a federal investigation.
The allegations have not yet been established through a final court ruling.
Federal Criminal Charges Against Jimenez Were Dismissed
Following the October 2025 shooting, federal prosecutors charged Jimenez with assaulting a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon.
The case became a significant legal dispute between prosecutors and Jimenez’s defense team.
His lawyers sought access to communications and operational records involving the officers who participated in the incident.
On May 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge Kenly Kiya Kato ordered the government to provide relevant communications and records requested by the defense.
The order included communications from government-issued and personal phones. It also required a sworn declaration from Officer Ortiz if no relevant messages from him existed.
The defense had raised concerns about the evidence and the government’s account of the incident.
Prosecutors later agreed to resolve the criminal case through a diversion agreement. Jimenez completed the conditions of that agreement.
On November 2, 2026, the judge dismissed the indictment with prejudice.
This is an important legal development. Dismissal with prejudice means the same criminal charges cannot simply be filed again against Jimenez.
However, the decision did not establish that the ICE officer used excessive force or that federal officials committed misconduct.
The criminal case and the new civil lawsuit are separate legal proceedings.
Why Is Carlos Jimenez Seeking More Than $25 Million?
Jimenez’s new lawsuit seeks more than $25 million in damages.
The complaint names the United States government, San Bernardino County, ICE officer Eusebio Ortiz, two U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, an FBI special agent, and additional unnamed defendants.
The lawsuit raises several legal claims, including:
- Excessive use of force during the immigration operation.
- Assault and wrongful use of a firearm.
- False arrest and detention.
- Malicious prosecution.
- Alleged interference with medical treatment.
- Financial losses, including medical expenses and lost wages.
Jimenez reportedly continues to experience the effects of the shooting. The lawsuit says bullet fragments remain near his lung.
The requested compensation is intended to address the physical injuries, medical expenses, financial losses, and other damages described in the complaint.
The $25 million figure represents the amount sought by the plaintiff. It is not a court-approved payment or a settlement.
The defendants will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations as the civil case proceeds.
What Have Federal Agencies Said About the New Lawsuit?
Federal agencies have not publicly accepted responsibility for the allegations described in the lawsuit.
According to reporting by The Guardian, the Department of Homeland Security referred questions about the case to the Department of Justice. The FBI declined to comment.
A Justice Department spokesperson, Ciaran McEvoy, said Jimenez could have exercised his right to take the criminal case to trial. Instead, he requested that prosecutors agree to resolve the matter through a diversion agreement.
The spokesperson did not comment directly on the allegations in the newly filed civil lawsuit.
The difference between the government’s account and Jimenez’s claims remains a central part of the dispute.
What Happens Next in the California ICE Shooting Case?
The civil lawsuit now creates a separate legal battle over the shooting and the events that followed.
Unlike the earlier criminal prosecution, this case focuses on whether federal officers and other defendants can be held financially responsible for the alleged actions.
The court will have to consider the evidence, legal arguments, and responses from the defendants.
Important questions include whether the shooting involved excessive force, whether the arrest and subsequent prosecution were lawful, and whether Jimenez’s medical treatment was handled appropriately.
The filing of a lawsuit does not automatically prove the allegations. The claims will need to be examined through the legal process.
For now, Jimenez’s case remains an important development in the ongoing debate over federal immigration enforcement and the use of force by government officers.
The outcome could determine whether he receives compensation for the injuries and losses described in his complaint.
The civil case is still in its early stages, and no final decision has been made on the allegations against the defendants.
