In the wake of violent anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles, FBI Director Kash Patel issued a stern warning, emphasizing the consequences for those who attack law enforcement personnel.
"If you assault a law enforcement officer, youre going to jailperiod," Patel declared, underscoring the agency's commitment to upholding the rule of law.
As reported by Fox News, Patel further stated, "It doesnt matter where you came from, how you got here, or what cause you claim to represent. If local jurisdictions wont stand behind the men and women who wear the badge, the FBI will."
This declaration comes as President Donald Trump took decisive action by signing a Presidential Memorandum to deploy 2,000 National Guardsmen to Paramount, California. This move followed a disturbing incident where immigration authorities were attacked with rocks, stones, and concrete, resulting in shattered windshields of government vehicles.
The severity of the situation was highlighted by U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks, who shared a harrowing image of a Border Patrol agent's hand, bloodied by a rock that penetrated a vehicle's windshield. Federal sources have indicated that the flying debris posed a lethal threat to the agents involved. Patel reiterated the FBI's stance on social media, stating, "Doesnt matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you. If the local police force wont back our men and women on the thin blue line, we @FBI will."
The FBI has a specialized force dedicated to immigration issues, with a significant presence in Los Angeles. In response to the escalating violence, several individuals have already been apprehended for assaulting federal agents, as confirmed by Banks. The unrest in Paramount marked the second consecutive day of significant riots in Los Angeles, with Friday night witnessing over 1,000 rioters targeting a federal law enforcement building, assaulting ICE agents, slashing tires, and vandalizing property.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem issued a stark warning to the rioters, asserting that their actions would not deter ICE agents. "If you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Noem cautioned in a social media post.
Meanwhile, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced the agency's efforts to identify those responsible for hurling rocks at law enforcement vehicles, emphasizing the inevitability of their capture. "One of the perpetrators in this video is wearing a helmet, and were going to use our investigative tools to locate the individual," Bongino stated. "I strongly suggest you turn yourself in, its only a matter of time."
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