Protesters in Los Angeles once again launch violent assaults this weekend against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and law enforcement officers.
Agitators at the Federal Building in downtown LA threw rocks, bottles, and fireworks. Police deployed tear gas, flash bangs, and rubber bullets to try and maintain order.
Protesters even went after police horses.
Over 70 people were arrested.
The protests started on June 6 after federal agents swept through the city’s garment district for illegal immigrants, arresting 118, including five gang members.
The operation ICE conducted that these protesters are objecting to included detaining criminals who presented clear national security threats such as Jordan Mauricio from Honduras, who was arrested for distribution of heroin and cocaine; Filipino national Rolando Veneracion-Enrique, who was convicted of multiple sexual assault offenses; and Jesus Alan Morales, who attempted to smuggle an illegal alien into the U.S.
Related: Here Are The Violent Criminals ICE Agents Were Attacked For Arresting
Instead of praising ICE agents for a successful operation that protected the public, Mayor Karen Bass demonized them by saying, “These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our community.” Bass’ outcry against ICE is a cry against the safety of those who inhabit her city.
On the third day of the protests, rioters began setting cars on fire and blocked off major highways, including the crucial 101 Freeway. On June 8, President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 California National Guard troops to defend federal agents and police who were pelted with slabs of concrete by angry protesters.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that National Guard soldiers will “provide safety around buildings and to those that are engaged in peaceful protests, and also to our law enforcement officers so they can continue their work daily.” States have an obligation to protect federal law enforcement, but Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have refused to acknowledge the attack on federal agents in LA.
Even on Sunday, as Los Angeles reeled from Saturday’s violence, Newsom’s sympathies were not with his citizens and peace officers.
Related: Will The LA Riots Be Repeated Across The Country?
This dereliction of duty by city and state authorities led naturally to greater federal involvement. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has sent 700 active-duty U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion in response to the increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings.
The deployment of the Marines and National Guard places manpower back into the streets in LA to squelch violent protests.
Last week border czar Tom Homan addressed the American people saying, “This is about enforcing the law, and again, we’re not going to apologize for doing it.”
Left-wing politicians like Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., habitually coddle illegal criminals, including the “Maryland Man” Kilmar Abrego Garcia who was made out to be a martyr of Trump’s immigration policies. Just a few weeks ago, however, Garcia was exposed for heavy involvement in an alien smuggling ring, including trafficking children, and in weapon and drug smuggling.
The president’s policies are already yielding results. Customs and Border Control recorded more than 10.8 million encounters with inadmissible aliens from 2021-2024, compared to 3 million encounters during the first Trump administration.
Raul Ortiz, the chief of Border Patrol in 2023, reported that the total number of “gotaways” during the previous administration could be underreported by 20%, meaning we cannot know how many national security threats, violent criminals, and hardened gang members have infiltrated American communities. Chinese nationals crossing the border also increased by a striking 1,000% under the Biden-Harris administration.
Trump’s border policies are fixing the problems the Biden administration created. Border crossings are now down by 95% and ICE is eliminating foreign threats within the country.
Incredibly, the Mexican government has also chosen to involve itself in the violent riots.
On June 9, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called Mexican rioters “heroes” and denounced Trump’s attempts to use federal immigration law against illegal aliens—making Mexico complicit in the riots. Politicians like Sheinbaum, Bass, and Newsom are spreading dangerous narratives that ICE and the Trump administration are against Latinos, when in reality the administration is protecting all Americans’ national security interests.
Noem has a message for rioters and politicians who endanger ICE and law enforcement: “You will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law and arrest criminal illegal aliens.”
Indeed, late Sunday night, in a Truth Social post, Trump announced he’s doubling down on removing illegal immigrants from cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.
“These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens,” Trump wrote.
He also had a message for ICE agents.
“I want our Brave ICE Officers to know that REAL Americans are cheering you on every day,” Trump concluded. “The American People want our Cities, Schools, and Communities to be SAFE and FREE from Illegal Alien Crime, Conflict, and Chaos.”
Syndicated with permission from The Daily Signal.