DHS Calls KTLA 'Dishonest' After Station Omitted Agency Statement In Border Patrol Arrest Near North Hills Church

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Los Angeles television station KTLA of "dishonest reporting" after the outlet initially published a story about an immigration-related arrest near North Hills United Methodist Church without including the agency's full statement.

What Happened

KTLA reported Monday that local residents were "outraged and devastated" by what the station described as an "immigration raid on L.A. church grounds," after a community member was arrested on Thursday near the North Hills church. On Tuesday, DHS responded on its official X account, saying U.S. Border Patrol did not target the church referenced in the story and criticizing KTLA for omitting the department's statement.

KTLA reported on an arrest by Border Patrol officers outside a California church.

"This is dishonest reporting by @KTLA. KTLA omitted our official statement, sent to them yesterday, which clearly states that U.S. Border Patrol did NOT target the United Methodist Church or its parking lot in North Hills, California. We look forward to them updating their story, but screenshots are forever." — DHS post on X

Details From DHS

DHS said the person arrested, identified as Carlos Chavez-Guzman, is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who had been removed from the United States in 2016. According to DHS, Chavez-Guzman fled from law enforcement at the time officers encountered him, and agents located him near the church after the pursuit.

The department provided KTLA with a written statement Monday afternoon and posted a screenshot of that message publicly. The statement encouraged participation in U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Home App for voluntary self-deportation, noting an offer of "$2,600 and a free flight" to those who choose to self-deport and a chance to return legally in the future. The statement also warned that people remaining in the U.S. unlawfully face arrest and deportation without the opportunity to return.

DHS released a statement saying that there was no raid on a church.

Timeline And Reporting

Records from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine indicate KTLA updated its story on Tuesday to include the full DHS statement. The earlier version of the KTLA article had said the station had sought comment from DHS and would update the story once a response was received. KTLA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, as noted in coverage of the dispute.

Why It Matters

The exchange highlights tensions between news outlets and government agencies over accurate characterization of law enforcement activity, especially when sensitive locations such as houses of worship are involved. DHS emphasized it had communicated its account to KTLA and criticized the initial omission; the station later added the statement to its coverage.

Bottom line: DHS says Border Patrol did not target the church and that the arrested individual fled officers, while KTLA originally published the story without the agency's full statement and updated it the following day.