In recent days, Southern California has witnessed two separate shooting incidents involving officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), amid ongoing scrutiny from left-wing groups monitoring these agents.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, shared with Fox News Digital that on Thursday, an individual in Ontario, California, aggressively confronted ICE officers by positioning their vehicle directly in front of them. Despite commands to vacate the premises, the driver reversed towards the officers in a threatening manner, prompting an ICE officer, fearing for his life, to discharge his firearm at the vehicle, which then escaped.
McLaughlin emphasized that this event highlights the persistent dangers ICE officers face daily. She noted a significant uptick in assaults against ICE personnel, with vehicles increasingly being used as weapons and death threats rising by 8,000%.
“The violence must cease,” McLaughlin asserted. “Let it be known that any actions to assault, obstruct, or threaten the lives of federal officers will lead to arrest and prosecution to the fullest degree of the law.”
Law enforcement responds following an incident involving ICE in Southern California. (KTTV)
“ICE officers now face a 1,000% increase in assaults against them including cars being used as weapons and death threats against our agents are up 8,000%,” she said. “This violence must end. Let me be clear: Anyone who assaults, impedes, obstructs, or threatens the lives of federal officers will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
In a separate incident on Oct. 21, DHS said TikTok influencer Carlito Ricardo Parias, an illegal immigrant, tried to ram his car into a law enforcement vehicle in Los Angeles.
ICE officers fired shots at Parias, hitting him in the elbow, McLaughlin said. One U.S. Marshals officer was also shot in the hand by a ricochet bullet.
The shooting incident involving ICE officers happened on Thursday. (KTTV)
Both individuals are in stable condition, and the DHS official said charges are being pursued against Parias for allegedly assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal law enforcement.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Parias has been tracking ICE agents for months before his eventual arrest, and was known by some people as “Tiktokquero,” “El Señor Richard and “Richard.”
In an incident on October 21, an illegal immigrant was accused of ramming his car into law enforcement’s vehicle. (X/@USAttyEssayli)
Attorney General Pam Bondi called out Democrats in Los Angeles, including Mayor Karen Bass, after they released plans to track ICE agents.
“Shutdown Democrats are already refusing to pay our law enforcement agents. Now, @RepRobertGarcia and @SenBlumenthal are trying to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs,” Bondi wrote. “@TheJusticeDept has ZERO tolerance for violence against law enforcement — we will prosecute any person who physically assaults our agents.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Bass, Rep. Garcia, D-CA, and Sen. Blumenthal, D-Conn., for comment.
