MSNBC Host Stephanie Ruhle Reacts to Disturbing Footage of ICE Agents Injuring Teenage U.S. Citizen in Houston
MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle delivered an emotional reaction on Thursday to newly obtained footage showing federal immigration agents violently detaining a 16-year-old U.S. citizen in Houston, Texas. The incident left the teenager hospitalized with significant damage to his neck and spine, raising serious questions about enforcement tactics.
"I want you to put down your drink, definitely put down your smartphone if you're scrolling, and please pay attention to this," Ruhle urged viewers during her program "The 11th Hour" before airing portions of the footage. The video was obtained by fellow MSNBC journalist Antonia Hylton, who has been investigating the case extensively.
The Violent Encounter That Left a Teenager Hospitalized
The incident occurred on October 23 when Arnulfo Bazán-Carrillo was driving his 16-year-old son, Arnoldo, to school after stopping at a McDonald's. According to reports, several unmarked vehicles with flashing emergency lights ordered the father—an undocumented immigrant who has lived in the United States since the 1990s—to pull over.
Arnoldo previously told Houston Public Media that when his father pulled into a parking lot, two vehicles blocked them in. Masked law enforcement officers exited their vehicles without visible identification badges and began hitting the windows of their van. Fearing for their safety, the father and son drove away, only to be pursued by federal officers who repeatedly rammed their vehicle.
"And after this scene here, they end up being violently detained on the ground inside a restaurant sort of depot lot," Hylton explained during the segment. "And the agents put Arnoldo, a U.S. citizen and a minor, in a chokehold so tight ... that he ends up having to go to a children's trauma unit."
Lasting Injuries and Conflicting Accounts
The physical consequences for Arnoldo were severe. Hylton reported that the teenager suffered "damage to his neck and spine that lasted for weeks" and required morphine to manage the pain. During the chase, Arnoldo captured portions of the incident on his phone, which shows him panicking as events unfolded.
Ruhle expressed outrage at the justification provided by Homeland Security officials, who claimed they were unaware Hylton possessed the video when they told her Arnulfo Bazán-Carrillo had rammed his van into immigration agents' vehicles. "That's not what happened," Ruhle countered emphatically.
"For what?!" Ruhle exclaimed about the incident. "This father has been here since the 1990s. He has no felonies on record. He's taking his boy to school. Like, what—I'm assuming you've spoken to Homeland Security about this. How did they rationalize this?"
Aftermath: A Family Torn Apart
The repercussions extended far beyond the physical injuries. Bystander footage showed an officer grabbing Arnoldo's phone during the detainment. The family later tracked the device using location services to the Montgomery ICE Processing Center before discovering it had been sold at an electronics trade-in kiosk.
Most devastatingly, Hylton confirmed that Arnulfo Bazán-Carrillo has since been deported to Mexico, leaving Arnoldo and his three siblings to "basically raise themselves." The family separation adds another layer of tragedy to an already disturbing case.
Ruhle appeared visibly shaken by the reporting, telling Hylton, "This is such important reporting." She continued, "So many of us are living our lives and our heads are down and we're in our houses. And this might not be happening in our city or our community, and if you weren't sharing this reporting that is happening on U.S. soil, we would not know."
Hylton further discussed the case during an appearance on "All In With Chris Hayes," bringing additional attention to what she characterized as excessive force against a minor who holds American citizenship. The incident raises significant concerns about immigration enforcement practices and their impact on families, particularly when U.S. citizens become collateral damage in enforcement actions.
