A deputy U.S. Marshal and an illegal immigrant are both hospitalized following a violent encounter in the Los Angeles area yesterday, which involved the migrant allegedly using his vehicle as a weapon against arresting agents.
The incident occurred during a targeted operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, assisted by U.S. Marshals, to apprehend an illegal migrant who had previously escaped federal custody, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to the Tampa Free Press.
According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, agents initiated a standard traffic stop to execute the arrest. However, the migrant allegedly attempted to evade capture by ramming his vehicle into officers.
In response to the threat, agents reportedly fired defensive rounds. The migrant sustained a non-fatal gunshot wound to the elbow. An officer was also injured when one of the rounds ricocheted and struck their hand. Both individuals were subsequently hospitalized.
READ: Federal Judge Grants Unprecedented Anonymity In Voter Data Privacy Suit Against DHS, SSA
“This is a developing situation and information is preliminary: During a targeted enforcement traffic stop in the Los Angeles area, an illegal alien — who had previously escaped from custody — attempted to evade arrest yet again,” McLaughlin said in a statement.
McLaughlin strongly criticized what she called the “demonizing language” used by certain political figures against federal immigration authorities, directly linking their rhetoric to such dangerous confrontations.
“These are the consequences of conduct and rhetoric by sanctuary politicians and activists who urge illegal aliens to resist arrest,” McLaughlin stated. “Resisting arrest puts the safety of illegal aliens, law enforcement, and the public at risk.”
DHS further claimed that law enforcement officers are seeing a “more than 1000% increase in assaults against them including vehicle rammings by illegal aliens.”
READ: DHS Fires Back At Illinois Gov. Pritzker, Debunks ‘Smorgasbord Of Lies’ On Midway Blitz
The agency pointed to examples of “sanctuary politicians” allegedly providing resources and tips on how to defy ICE, citing California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s guides on recognizing ICE agents, LA Mayor Karen Bass’s multilingual flyers advising evasion, and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s webinar with tips for evading arrest.
McLaughlin concluded with a plea to political figures and media organizations. “We are once again calling on sanctuary politicians, agitators, and the media to turn the temperature down and stop calling for violence and resistance against ICE law enforcement.”
DHS stated that the situation remains under investigation and that the information is preliminary.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
