Auto body shop owner and employee detained by CBP during forced door entry without warrant
Feb 3, 2026·Location: West Valley City, UT
Country of origin: El Salvador

Ismael Avalos, owner of Viper Auto Body in West Valley City, and his employee Wilmer Menjivar were detained by CBP agents during a forced entry on January 31, 2026. Menjivar, a Salvadoran national with no criminal record, believed he was being followed by unmarked vehicles as he arrived at work, ran into the shop, and locked the door behind him. Agents then broke through the locked glass door, entered the business, and detained both men. Menjivar's wife, Lilly, confronted agents and asked for a warrant; an agent responded that one was not needed. An immigration attorney stated the circumstances raise serious Fourth Amendment concerns, as agents lacked a judicial warrant and no legal exceptions for warrantless entry appeared to apply. Menjivar's family believes the men were profiled based on appearance and ethnicity. Community activists later protested the arrests.
Timeline
Sources
- Video shows business door shattered after border patrol agents detain two employees
KUTV·Jan 31, 2026·archived copy
KJZZ·Jan 31, 2026·archived copy
- ICE raid at West Valley auto shop leaves family demanding answers
ksltv.com·Feb 1, 2026·archived copy
- abc4.com
- abc4.com
- Border Patrol detentions at Utah auto shop spark questions about warrantless arrests
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