A heated protest in California took an unexpected turn when a woman replaced the U.S. flag with a Mexican one before threatening a police officer’s family during her arrest.
Tensions Escalate Over Immigration Concerns
Crystal Aguilar, a 24-year-old from Bakersfield, was taken into custody on Thursday morning at Hart Park.
Several witnesses called authorities after spotting her attempting to remove the American flag from a flagpole.
Aguilar, whose parents were deported when she was a child, managed to cut the chain securing the flag, throwing it into the mud before hoisting a Mexican flag in its place.
Heated Confrontation with Law Enforcement
Deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, where they encountered Aguilar standing by the newly raised flag.
As seen in bodycam footage, she defiantly told officers, “You’re not going to tell me what to do, this is Mexican land.”
As officers moved in to arrest her, Aguilar resisted, making violent threats.
“My people kill you,” she warned, later adding, “My dad is going to kill you and all your family.”
She continued to struggle as deputies worked to restrain her, repeatedly demanding to be set free.
Charges and Previous Activism
Authorities arrested Aguilar on multiple charges, including vandalism, resisting arrest, trespassing in a vehicle, and violating a county ordinance for possession of marijuana in a park.
Just a week prior, she had protested outside Bakersfield City Hall, advocating for immigrant rights.
Aguilar has been vocal about her experiences growing up without her parents after they were deported.
“We are the voices of our parents,” she said in an interview.
“I grew up without a mom and dad because the government decided to deport them.
They were field workers, and I say that loud and proud.”
Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
Her protest coincides with an ongoing federal crackdown on illegal immigration.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up deportations, removing over 6,000 individuals since January 20.
ICE data reveals an average of 350 to 400 deportations per day, with Monday alone seeing 715 arrests for immigration violations.
According to officials, 73% of those detained had prior criminal convictions or pending charges, including offenses such as homicide, drug trafficking, and sexual crimes against minors.
Trump’s Stance on Deportations
President Trump has remained firm on his position regarding deportations, emphasizing the removal of individuals he considers dangerous.
“The volume of crime that they have and the viciousness of the crimes—these people are horrible,” he stated during a press briefing.
“If I can get them out of the country and into another country that’s willing to take them, I think it would be great. I’d love to get them the hell out of our country.”
With continued enforcement efforts, the administration signals that this is only the beginning of a broader push to remove undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal backgrounds.
Meanwhile, Aguilar’s case highlights the deep tensions surrounding immigration policy in the U.S.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn