A routine stop in Los Angeles, California, turned into a terrifying viral moment after a woman livestreamed federal agents surrounding her vehicle and smashing her car window as viewers watched in real time.
The incident happened on Friday afternoon when Maria Santay began streaming from inside her car. In the video, she can be heard pleading with agents and repeatedly saying she feared for her safety. Moments later, glass shattered as agents forced entry into the vehicle.
“I’m a U.S. citizen,” Santay said during the livestream, her voice shaking as the situation escalated.
According to reporting from ABC7 Los Angeles, the agents involved were with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The footage quickly spread across social media, drawing widespread outrage and concern over the use of force.
Community Reaction Grows After Video Goes Viral
Santay later told reporters she believed she had been followed earlier that day and felt targeted during the encounter. She described the experience as frightening and confusing, saying she did not understand why agents detained her.
El Monte police officers responded to the scene but stated they were present for public safety reasons only and were not assisting in the federal operation. Santay was taken into custody and later released. Authorities say she now faces charges related to resisting arrest.
By Friday night, supporters gathered outside the El Monte Police Department, honking car horns and ringing cowbells as a show of solidarity when Santay returned home. Many said the video resonated deeply because it captured a moment they fear could happen to anyone.
Santay later addressed supporters and thanked them for showing up, saying the encounter left her shaken but grateful to be alive.
“Every second felt like my last,” she said.
