The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently announced a series of arrests related to a troubling rise in assaults on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal personnel.
These incidents, which have surged to record highs in recent months, have prompted the DOJ to take swift action against the individuals responsible for attacking federal officers during immigration enforcement operations.
The arrests have come as part of an ongoing effort by federal authorities to crack down on violent acts against law enforcement officers, particularly those serving in immigration-related duties.
In several of the most recent cases, suspects have been charged with aggravated assault, damaging federal property, and other serious offenses that have put the safety of federal agents at risk.
On Friday, Gregory K. Bovino, the Commander of Operation at Large California and Chief of the El Centro Border Patrol Sector, confirmed that federal agents had arrested a man in Los Angeles who was accused of assaulting an ICE officer.
The suspect, a U.S. citizen, was allegedly caught spitting on a federal agent while immigration enforcement operations were taking place. A video uploaded to social media shows members of the Border Patrol’s BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit) special operations group taking the suspect into custody. The man was reportedly wearing an anti-ICE t-shirt at the time of his arrest.
“This U.S. citizen is accused of assaulting a federal agent by spitting on him during an immigration arrest under Operation at Large. Our agents swiftly served him a warrant in Los Angeles,” Bovino wrote on social media.
“California may coddle criminals, but we don’t. If you assault a federal agent, you earn federal consequences. Remember: When talking to federal law enforcement officers, say it, don’t spray it.”
The arrest highlights the rising tensions between law enforcement agencies and those who oppose immigration enforcement actions. The alleged assault is part of a broader trend of increasing hostility toward federal officers, with many incidents of aggression occurring in the context of protests, demonstrations, and clashes outside ICE facilities.
The latest arrest came just days after the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon announced the arrest of a Portland man who was accused of committing multiple crimes during a violent riot outside an ICE office in Portland, Oregon. The incident occurred back in June, during a days-long protest that escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and federal officers.
Robert Jacob Hoopes, a 24-year-old Portland resident, made his initial court appearance on felony charges of aggravated assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and depredation of federal property.
The charges stem from an incident on June 14, when Hoopes allegedly threw large rocks at the ICE office building. One of the rocks struck a group of ICE agents, injuring one of them with a significant laceration over one of their eyes.
According to federal prosecutors, Hoopes and two other individuals went further that day, ripping out a street sign and using it as a makeshift battering ram to damage the main entry door to the ICE building.
The damage was extensive, and Hoopes was identified through photographs uploaded to social media after the incident. Hoopes now faces multiple charges related to his violent actions, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon has since charged 23 individuals for their involvement in the riots outside the ICE office.
The violent protests in Portland are not isolated incidents. In fact, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon has brought numerous charges against individuals involved in the riots that plagued the city in the summer of 2025.
The charges include assaulting federal officers, arson, and possession of destructive devices, all of which have contributed to a growing concern about the safety of law enforcement officers enforcing immigration laws and policies.
In another high-profile case, the DOJ announced the arrest of Elpidio Reyna, a 39-year-old man who had been on the FBI’s most-wanted list for his involvement in violent rioting in Los Angeles earlier this summer.
Reyna is accused of throwing concrete blocks at federal vehicles during a mob attack on federal agents in Paramount, California, on June 7, 2025. The attack caused significant damage to federal vehicles, including one incident where a windshield was shattered by a concrete block, nearly causing a crash.
Reyna’s actions were captured on footage obtained by Fox News, showing him and others hurling large projectiles at federal personnel as they attempted to carry out their duties.
One federal agent was injured during the attack, and Reyna became a key target of the FBI’s investigation. However, after fleeing the scene, Reyna managed to escape to Mexico, where he remained at large for several weeks.
After a lengthy search, federal officials successfully tracked Reyna down to the San Ysidro Port of Entry in California, where he was apprehended early on Wednesday morning.
According to the FBI, Reyna had initially been detained by Mexican authorities in Sinaloa but was later handed over to U.S. authorities following negotiations between the two countries. Reyna has since been returned to Los Angeles, where he faces charges related to his involvement in the violent attack on federal agents.
Reyna’s arrest marks a significant victory for the DOJ and the FBI in their efforts to hold those responsible for violent actions against federal officers accountable.
The apprehension of Reyna also underscores the continued threat to the safety of law enforcement officers, particularly those enforcing immigration laws in volatile areas.
Since June 13, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon has charged 23 defendants in connection with the violence that erupted during the Portland protests.
These charges reflect a broader trend of escalating assaults on federal officers and the damaging of government property. The DOJ’s crackdown on these violent offenders is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that individuals who engage in such activities face the full extent of the law.
The arrests and prosecutions of these individuals serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by federal agents in the course of their duties, especially in politically charged environments where tensions between law enforcement and activists have reached alarming levels.
The rise in assaults on ICE agents and other federal officers is indicative of a broader societal divide over immigration enforcement policies and the role of government agencies in carrying out those policies.
The growing number of arrests related to violent acts against federal officers highlights the need for continued vigilance and enforcement of laws designed to protect law enforcement personnel from harm. Federal authorities are making it clear that such violent behavior will not be tolerated and that those who attack federal agents will face severe consequences.
As the DOJ continues to pursue justice in these cases, the message to those who engage in violent protests or assaults against law enforcement officers is clear: the U.S. government will use its full resources to track down and prosecute those responsible.
The arrests of suspects like Hoopes and Reyna demonstrate the commitment of federal law enforcement agencies to upholding the law and ensuring the safety of the men and women who serve as the backbone of the U.S. immigration system.
While some activists may see these incidents as a necessary form of protest against immigration policies, the DOJ maintains that violence against federal agents is never justified.
As the legal process unfolds, these cases will likely serve as a test of the nation’s commitment to ensuring that law enforcement personnel are protected from harm and that those who engage in violent acts face justice.
