Two separate incidents involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers occurred in Southern California within the past ten days, as concerns grow over escalating hostility toward federal agents.
According to a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that on Thursday in Ontario, California, a driver pulled their car in front of ICE officers. When the officers instructed the individual to move, the person allegedly tried to run them over “by reversing directly at them without stopping.”
One officer, fearing for his life, fired at the car, which fled the area. DHS identified the suspect as 23-year-old Carlos Jimenez, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He is currently being held at West Valley Detention Center and faces pending charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers.
McLaughlin described the incident as “another example of the threats our ICE officers are facing day in and day out,” adding that assaults against ICE officers have increased by 1,000%, and death threats are up by 8,000%.
“This violence must end. Let me be clear: Anyone who assaults, impedes, obstructs, or threatens the lives of federal officers will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” McLaughlin said.
In a separate case on Oct. 21, DHS reported that TikTok influencer Carlito Ricardo Parias, an undocumented immigrant, attempted to ram his car into a law enforcement vehicle in Los Angeles. ICE officers opened fire, injuring Parias in the elbow. A U.S. Marshals officer was also struck in the hand by a ricocheted bullet.
Both men are in stable condition. DHS said charges are being pursued against Parias for allegedly assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal law enforcement.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Parias had been tracking ICE agents for several months before his arrest and was known by aliases including “Tiktokquero,” “El Señor Richard,” and “Richard.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized Democratic officials in Los Angeles, including Mayor Karen Bass, for allegedly supporting efforts to monitor ICE agents.
“Shutdown Democrats are already refusing to pay our law enforcement agents. Now, @RepRobertGarcia and @SenBlumenthal are trying to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs,” Bondi said. “@TheJusticeDept has zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement — we will prosecute any person who physically assaults our agents.”
