Ana Victoria Montoya’s last conversation with her father, Carlos Roberto Montoya, was filled with fear. In August 2025, the undocumented Guatemalan immigrant expressed concern about being detained by ICE amid President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign. Montoya, who worked as a day laborer in California, had seen federal agents target his peers at the Home Depot in Monrovia, where he often sought work. Despite his caution, he felt compelled to return to the site to support his family back in Guatemala.
Tragedy struck when Montoya was caught in a raid by US Customs and Border Protection agents. In a desperate attempt to escape, he ran across Interstate 210 and was fatally struck by a car. His daughter, Ana, received a chilling call from an unknown woman informing her of the accident. The line went dead, leaving Ana in distress as she tried to reach her father without success. The incident raised questions about why a 57-year-old man would risk his life in such a manner, unless he was being pursued by federal agents.