Homeland Security urges Democrats to tone down rhetoric as ICE officers get assaulted in LA

Department said it took the Los Angeles Police Department two hours to respond to ICE officers getting assualted during raids.

By Charlotte Hazard

Published: June 7, 2025 4:49pm

The Department of Homeland Security on Saturday called on Democrat politicians to tone down the rhetoric against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducting raids after some officers were assaulted.

"Last night, over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer-funded property," DHS said in a press release.

The department said it took the Los Angeles Police Department two hours to respond.

"These riots in Los Angeles and increased assaults on ICE officers come after Democrat politicians, including Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor Wu of Boston, Tim Walz, and Mayor Bass of Los Angeles, have villainized and demonized ICE law enforcement," the department stated.

Federal agents conducted two major raids on Friday in Southern California, including one raid that featured flash-bang grenades to disperse an angry crowd in Los Angeles.

The first raid took place at a clothing wholesaler in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles. The second raid saw federal agents descend on a Home Depot where illegal migrants who are looking for day labor go to find work.

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons put out a statement that rioters assaulted federal law enforcement officers and criticized Democratic Mayor Bass for her poor leadership during the incident.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the violence against ICE agents must end.

“The violent targeting of law enforcement in Los Angeles by lawless rioters is despicable and Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom must call for it to end," McLaughlin said in a statement. "The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.

"Make no mistake, Democrat politicians like Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor Wu of Boston, Tim Walz, and Mayor Bass of Los Angeles are contributing to the surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE," she added. "From comparisons to the modern-day Nazi gestapo to glorifying rioters, the violent rhetoric of these sanctuary politicians is beyond the pale. This violence against ICE must end."