Religious leaders demand answers after taco vendor taken by federal agents at North Hills church

NORTH HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Local religious leaders are denouncing the actions of federal immigration agents who arrested a man on the grounds of North Hills United Methodist Church during a weekly food distribution event last week.

The man, identified by family as Carlos Chavez, was known in the community for selling tacos. His wife, who spoke surrounded by clergy on Monday and asked that her name not be used to protect her identity, said Chavez was detained on Thursday, and by Friday, had been taken to Tijuana. She said he has bronchitis and is not doing well.

Cellphone video provided to Eyewitness News shows immigration agents swarming the church property during the arrest last Thursday during the church's weekly food distribution.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Taco vendor chased, detained by federal agents at North Hills church

Video circulating online shows a taco vendor running from masked agents during an immigration raid at a North Hills church on Thursday.

Pastor Ervin Aguilon grew emotional as he described watching agents take Chavez into custody on church property.

"Carlos Chavez was not just a vendor, was not just a taquero. He was and is a member of a faith community," Aguilon said. "I have been a pastor to his family. He's been helping all he can with our children's ministries."

Aguilon and other clergy leaders publicly denounced the action by immigration agents.

"Immigrants are members of our churches. Immigrants are God's children," said Cristina Barrientos of North Hills United Methodist Church. "It is not only heartbreaking, but wrong and unjust to see people be racially profiled. To see God's children be targeted."

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), immigration agents are allowed in public areas of a church, but not in private spaces such as offices. That distinction has done little to ease frustration among the religious leaders who gathered on Monday.

"We will reject their violence. We will reject their intimidation, and we will reject their fear-mongering," said Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. "And we will reject them labeling these people as immigrants but who are really refugees."

Eyewitness News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for more details on Chavez's arrest, but has yet to hear back.