A 54-year-old man with a lengthy criminal record was arrested Monday after throwing Molotov cocktails at officers outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building in Los Angeles, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The department reported that the man arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building carrying several Molotov cocktails while shouting at Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers outside.
A contracted security officer reported hearing the man yell at officers before he threw two bottles at them.
The bottles were not lit and did not ignite, and caused no injuries or damage. The man was then arrested.
According to DHS, he told agents he intended to blow up the building and "spray down" the officers while continuing to make derogatory comments about ICE personnel. Officers also recovered four knives and a multi-tool device while arresting him.
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said the incident represented a deliberate attack on federal law enforcement and described it as part of a broader trend toward violence facing DHS officers nationwide.
She said ICE officers face a 1,150% increase in assaults and an 8,000% increase in death threats, which she attributed to hostile rhetoric directed at immigration enforcement.
McLaughlin said DHS personnel have also faced mass assaults, vehicle attacks, and targeted shootings. She said the department intends to pursue prosecution in such cases.
Federal officials noted that the attack came just days after two National Guardsmen were fatally ambushed in Washington, calling both events part of a pattern of escalating threats for federal officers.
DOJ said the man's criminal history extends over nearly four decades. His record includes an attempted murder charge in 1987, a robbery involving a gun in 1991, and a 2007 charge related to annoying or molesting a minor.
Federal immigration enforcement in California remains active, with ICE and DHS conducting targeted operations focused on those with criminal convictions or final deportation orders.
Policies in some major cities limit local cooperation, but federal actions continue independently, including periodic surge operations and ongoing investigations tied to threats against federal officers.
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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