This article was co-published with La Opinión, the leading Spanish-language news outlet in the U.S., and produced under the California Local News Fellowship program at the University of Berkeley.
José Medina, a 35-year-old father of four, had just started selling tamales at 8 a.m. at a 7-Eleven on First and Gaffey Street in San Pedro when immigration authorities arrested him.
Security cameras and a pedestrian recorded the moment when three agents handcuffed Medina, who was wearing a red hat, and put him in a silver truck. At the same time, another agent was seen pushing Medina’s tamal cart to the side.
“Because the phone number was on the shopping cart, the same people from the 7-Eleven called my aunt to let her know they had taken my uncle,” said Eduardo, Medina’s nephew, who also sells tamales.
Medina's family consists of eight members who sell tamales throughout San Pedro. Each has their own business, and their sales support their families.