10 arrested in violence at LA immigration protests – NBC Los Angeles

Federal law enforcement authorities announced arrests Wednesday in connection with violence during immigration enforcement operation protests earlier this year in Southern California, including a July clash in rural Ventura County . 

Ten people were arrested and charged in three criminal complaints that include allegations of engaging in violence and civil disorder against law enforcement officers and property during immigration enforcement actions, the Department of Justice said. Another person is in state custody and one more is considered a fugitive, authorities said.

All 12 are charged with federal crimes alleging they committed violence against law enforcement authorities and property, the DOJ said.

They include two Oxnard residents who are charged with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer during a Department of Homeland Security operation on July 10, when agents executed search warrants at the Glass House Farms in Camarillo. The law enforcement activity drew protesters to the farm fields about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles in Ventura County.

FBI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang said Department of Homeland Security special agents, the FBI, Enforcement and Removal Operations agents and the IRS executed a search warrant Wednesday morning in Oxnard and attempted to arrest the two individuals. One was arrested at the scene, but a second person is still sought, authorities said.

Wang said a federal criminal arrest warrant was issued for 32-year-old Virginia Reyes.

In a separate federal complaint, nine people were charged with obstructing, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder in connection with violence June 8 in downtown Los Angeles outside the Civic Center.

Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli, Wang and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis spoke at a morning news conference about the arrests and criminal charges.

“Last summer, many individuals exercised their peaceful protest and constitutional rights,” Davis said. “The FBI is charged with upholding those rights and safeguarding those rights. However, we’re not here to discuss peaceful protests. The subjects we’re talking about today engaged in violent attacks. The FBI is working very closely with California Highway Patrol, whose officers were trapped under a bridge when violent protesters threw rocks, concrete, electric scooters and fireworks at officers and even ignited a patrol vehicle.”

A third complaint accused a Boyle Heights man of assault on a federal officer. The charge stems from June 6, when hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside an Ambiance Apparel warehouse in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles. The suspect is accused of pepper-spraying into a federal government vehicle as it left that area.

The three FBI SWAT members were in one of the vehicles, authorities said.

“There is zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers,” Essayli said. “During the summer we warned the public that anyone who engages in any violence will eventually be brought to justice. Today we are delivering on that promise and will continue to hold those who violated the law accountable.”

The immigration enforcement operations that began in June in Los Angeles and other Southern California communities are part of President Trump mass deportation plan, a central promise of his second campaign for the White House.

Through Oct. 6, more than 59,200 migrants had been taken into ICE detention since the start of President Trump’s second term, according NBC News, which used ICE data both public and internal as well as data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

About 29% of those in detention had criminal convictions; 25 had pending criminal charges; 46.9% were listed as “other immigration violator;” and 10.7% were fast-tracked for deportation.