Top Homeland Security official says 'foreign adversary' possibly behind anti-ICE riots

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin says it is possible a foreign adversary was behind the anti-ICE riots that spread across Los Angeles last week. 

"We are seeing indications that this is likely a foreign adversary, McLaughlin said on the Tuesday edition of the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show." But I'm not going to get ahead of the FBI." 

Protests and riots broke out across Los Angeles in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents' arrests of illegal migrants.

In response to the protests, President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 California National Guard members to the city, despite objections from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Trump on Sunday doubled down on his stance and ordered ICE to use all its resources to deliver the "single largest Mass Deportation Program in History."

McLaughlin said the Department of Homeland Security is working with other federal agencies to determine who or what is behind the riots. 

"The FBI is leading this investigation," she said. We're also working with the IRS and Homeland Security Investigations. These are looking like incredibly coordinated and highly sophisticated protests, with pallets of bricks being brought into different cities across the country, including Los Angeles and New York, where we've seen violent protests and riots break out."

McLaughlin said Trump's main goal is to keep Americans safe amid the chaos. 

"What he's going to do is keep American cities safe, American citizens safe and our law enforcement safe," she said. "He's done an incredible job. He's shown total moral leadership."

Earlier this month, Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., said Congress and the DOJ should investigate who is behind the Los Angeles riots and if there is anyone or any group funding them.