A Californian resident, Jacob Daniel Terrazas, is staring down the barrel of a potential twenty-year prison sentence following his alleged involvement in a violent immigration enforcement protest in June, which resulted in the injury of a Border Patrol agent.
The 30-year-old Paramount native was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from his alleged assault on a Border Patrol agent with pieces of cinderblock, according to a recent announcement from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
As reported by the Daily Caller, the indictment of Terrazas is likely the first of many to follow in the wake of the intense anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots that rocked the Los Angeles area in June.
These riots, coupled with a nationwide increase in assaults against immigration agents, have sparked significant concern among law enforcement officials.
Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli, in a public statement, said, After repeatedly throwing pieces of cinderblock at law enforcement, officers detained Terrazas, who now faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
He further emphasized the government's commitment to protecting its officers, stating, We will not stand by while our brave officers get hurt. If youre thinking of injuring an officer or agent enforcing immigration law, think again. Its not worth it.
The DOJ alleges that Terrazas was among several rioters who hurled hard objects, including rocks and cinderblocks, at federal agents during a violent protest near an ICE facility in Paramount on June 7. The accused is said to have used a makeshift shield and nearby trees for cover while repeatedly rushing agents to throw the pieces of cinderblock at them.
According to the DOJ, one of the objects allegedly thrown by Terrazas struck a Border Patrol agent's left shin, causing him to bleed and forcing him to temporarily retreat from the frontlines. Another Border Patrol agent was reportedly hit by rocks during the chaos but escaped injury.
The DOJ announcement stated, Terrazas who wore a dark beanie and black mask covering the lower half of his face and other individuals threw rocks at Border Patrol agents for approximately three hours. Law enforcement used less-lethal force pepper bells against Terrazas and other rock throwers. Eventually, law enforcement detained, identified, and arrested Terrazas.
The indictment of Terrazas follows a wave of massive anti-ICE riots that swept through Los Angeles and spread across the country. In response to federal immigration enforcement activity in early June, over a thousand rioters in Los Angeles reportedly surrounded an ICE building, assaulted deportation officers, slashed tires, and defaced government property.
Press footage of the violence captured anti-ICE rioters blocking traffic, defacing public property, and setting cars on fire, all while waving the flags of various foreign countries.
The total damage caused by the anti-ICE riots across Los Angeles is estimated to exceed $30 million. The Trump administration has noted a staggering increase in assaults against ICE law enforcement, with a rise of 830% initially reported, and a subsequent update indicating a 1,000% increase.
This escalating violence against law enforcement officers enforcing immigration law underscores the urgent need for a return to law and order, a cornerstone of conservative values.
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