54-year-old tamale vendor suffers heart attack after Border Patrol arrest
A 54-year-old woman who sold tamales at the same Pacoima spot for 10 years was arrested without a warrant, lost consciousness, and suffered a heart attack before being hospitalized.
Jun 19, 2025Pacoima, CACountry of origin: Mexico

During an immigration sweep on June 19 outside a Lowe's store in Pacoima, Border Patrol agents arrested a 54-year-old woman who had sold tamales at the same spot for 10 years, without presenting a warrant. She lost consciousness after being restrained and later suffered a heart attack; witnesses said a bystander identifying herself as a nurse was denied access to help before LAFD paramedics arrived. She was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where doctors confirmed a minor heart attack. A U.S. citizen recording the incident was also arrested and detained, and a federal judge later ruled the sweeps violated the 4th Amendment due to racial profiling.
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- Border Patrol arrested her selling tamales. Then she suffered a heart attack. 'I told them: I can’t breathe'
Los Angeles Times·Jul 14, 2025·archived copy
- Tamale vendor arrested by ICE on Southwest Side of Chicago
- Tamalera fue atacada por la migra en pleno negocio y terminó hospitalizada de emergencia
- Pacoima Tamales Vendor Suffers a Heart Attack During ICE Raid - The San Fernando Valley Sun
San Fernando Sun·Jun 26, 2025
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