LA high school senior detained by ICE while walking dog

Benjamin Marcelo Guerrero-Cruz, an 18-year-old senior at Reseda Charter High School in Los Angeles, was taken into custody by federal immigration officials while walking his dog in Van Nuys. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed he is being held pending removal for overstaying his visa by more than two years under the Visa Waiver Program.

Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz was taken into custody by immigration officials. (Rita Silva)

Key Details:

• Guerrero-Cruz was set to start his senior year but is now in DHS custody.
• Immigration agents tied his dog to a tree during the arrest, and the animal ran loose.
• A GoFundMe page describes him as a devoted family member and student.

Harsh Conditions in Custody:

• His mother reported he is held in a cramped space with 40 men, mostly older adults.
• Limited access to food and water, with no room to sit or lie down comfortably.
• LAUSD Supt. Alberto Carvalho called the conditions "dismal" and urged limits on ICE enforcement near schools.

Community Impact:

• Friends and teachers describe Guerrero-Cruz as kind, hardworking, and a pillar of his soccer team.
• The arrest has heightened fears among LA students and parents about ICE raids near schools.
• Earlier this month, ICE agents drew guns on a 15-year-old with disabilities outside Arleta High School, mistaking him for a gang member.

Broader Context:

• ICE has targeted LAUSD schools multiple times in 2025, including attempted entries at two elementary schools in April.
• Carvalho emphasized the psychological toll on students witnessing such enforcement actions.

Times staff writers Melissa Gomez and Malia Mendez contributed to this report.