By Terence P. Jeffrey
March 11, 2026
A Department of Homeland Security deportation officer, Terrell Dillard, presented an affidavit this month in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
The document described actions taken by Miguel Abrajan-Morales, a Mexican national, during his encounters with U.S. immigration authorities in 2016 under President Barack Obama’s administration.
“On or about October 13, 2016,” it stated, “defendant was ordered removed from the United States to Mexico.” The affidavit also noted that Abrajan-Morales was physically removed on that date.
The document further detailed that Abrajan-Morales returned to the United States within a week and was again deported.
“On or about October 19, 2016,” it said, “defendant was ordered removed from the United States to Mexico.” The affidavit confirmed he was physically removed on that date.
This month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California filed two criminal complaints against Abrajan-Morales, accusing him of carjacking and “being an illegal alien found in the United States following deportation or removal.”
The alleged carjacking occurred at a neighborhood shopping center in Placentia, California. The facility includes a KFC, a Chipotle, an Original Pancake House, a Starbucks, a nail salon, an optometrist, a dentist, and a large parking lot.
According to an affidavit submitted by Homeland Security Investigations special agent Nicholas DeSimone, the incident took place around 11:30 p.m. on February 27.
At that time, a man (identified as “G.P.G.”) and a woman (“E.L.O.”) were exiting a restaurant after work.
The affidavit states that E.L.O. walked to her car, entered a green 2025 Ford Bronco, and sat in the driver’s seat. “Unexpectedly,” it alleges, “ABRAJAN-MORALES opened and entered the Ford Bronco’s front-passenger door and struck E.L.O. in the face several times.”
To escape Abrajan-Morales, E.L.O. left the car from the driver’s side and left it running.
“G.P.G., in an effort to defend E.L.O., ran toward the Ford Bronco and initiated a fight with ABRAJAN-MORALES,” the criminal complaint states. “Following this, ABRAJAN-MORALES and G.P.G. struck each other several times.”
After the altercation, Abrajan-Morales walked around to the driver’s side of the Ford Bronco, entered it, and drove away without E.L.O.’s permission.
A review of surveillance video from the shopping center showed that after driving off, Abrajan-Morales turned his vehicle toward E.L.O. and G.P.G. twice before colliding with a parked Honda Civic near where they stood. Both individuals had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by Abrajan-Morales.
The complaint notes that E.L.O. sustained redness on her right side of the face, while G.P.G. suffered a cut on his forehead and ripped clothing.
E.L.O. later identified Abrajan-Morales as the perpetrator through a police photo confirmation.
Abrajan-Morales was arrested in Ontario, California two days after the incident.
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has taken an adamant stand against the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act. The bill, cosponsored by Senator Mike Lee and Representative Chip Roy, would require states to remove noncitizens from voting rolls and verify citizenship for registration.
In a statement on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he would not sign any bills until the SAVE Act passes.
Schumer criticized this stance, stating: “If Trump is saying he won’t sign any bills until the SAVE Act is passed, then there will be total gridlock in Congress. On the other hand, if the SAVE Act does pass, our democracy will be in very serious danger.”
