LA Taco Fires Reporter Amid Claims of Affair With State Senator

L.A. TACO has fired reporter Memo Torres, citing repeated violations of journalistic policies and standards. The decision has ignited a public dispute, with allegations that Torres, a prominent immigration reporter, had a romantic relationship with California State Senator Sasha Renee Pérez and allowed her to contribute to stories published under his byline.

L.A. TACO stated that Torres's departure was due to these ethical breaches and not a shift in the outlet's coverage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. "We fired him for repeated violations of our policies and our basic journalistic standards. That’s it. That’s the reason," the publication said in a statement released Saturday. The outlet maintains it gave Torres multiple opportunities to rectify his conduct and insists its immigration reporting will continue with new hires.

However, reporting from LA Material has brought forth claims that Pérez, a rising figure in the California Senate, was involved in editing or writing portions of articles attributed to Torres. Pérez has strongly denied these allegations, stating, "I did not write any articles or control the editorial decisions of L.A. Taco." She acknowledged a past personal relationship with Torres but stated they had limited their communication about six months prior at the request of L.A. TACO management.

A source close to Torres has refuted the ghostwriting claims, asserting that the reporter would not permit anyone to write under his name. This source suggested that L.A. TACO management was aware of the relationship as early as February and used it as a pretext to dismiss Torres amid disagreements over immigration coverage.

Torres, who gained national recognition for his extensive reporting on local ICE raids during his seven years with L.A. TACO, announced his departure on social media, calling it "End Of An Era." He subsequently launched an independent publication on Substack that quickly gained popularity. His exit has elicited a supportive response from many readers who expressed confusion and disappointment.

L.A. TACO's statement challenged Torres to publicly address the controversy, accusing him of remaining silent while his supporters criticized the newsroom. "How do you benefit from this? How does this movement benefit from canceling one of L.A.’s only independent newsrooms?" the outlet questioned. "This was never about one person. It’s about a community. And that community deserves the truth."

Torres, conversely, has disputed claims of refusing accountability. According to LA Material, L.A. TACO implemented safeguards regarding Torres's conduct, including requiring an ethics course he allegedly did not complete. Tensions reportedly escalated this month after management confronted Torres about a journalistic error and his alleged refusal to accept responsibility, leading to the final separation.

Questions surrounding Torres's coverage have also focused on his reporting in early 2026 concerning legislation on detention center oversight, which Pérez was championing. His reporting included promoting a bill introduced by Pérez, covering her press conference, and highlighting the legislation again later. One of these stories was later updated with an editor's note acknowledging amendments made to meet editorial standards.

In May, Pérez presented L.A. TACO with a journalism award at the 2026 Latino Spirit Awards, an event where she and Torres reportedly appeared together publicly. Torres, who transitioned from a former landscaper to a multimedia journalist, built a significant profile through his work with L.A. TACO.

L.A. TACO concluded its statement by asserting its continued commitment to covering ICE and immigration issues. "Let us be crystal clear: L.A. TACO will never stop covering ICE, immigration, and the attacks on our communities," the publication said.