Protesters against ICE confront TSA air marshals wrongly identified as ICE at a restaurant in LA

Misidentification Leads to Heckling at Restaurant

A group of activists opposed to ICE mistakenly targeted three Federal Air Marshals, thinking they were agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while they were dining at a Korean barbecue restaurant in Lynwood, California, on Wednesday night.

At the time, the TSA personnel, responsible for safeguarding travelers on U.S. flights, were simply having a meal when protesters assembled outside Tenra in the Plaza Mexico shopping center. One of the activists noted to a local news outlet that the group suspected the TSA agents “could be” ICE agents, and she even tried to deter restaurant staff from speaking to a reporter who was covering the scene.

She remarked, “Yeah, sorry. No one talks to you.”

The local sheriff’s department arrived to manage the situation, ensuring everyone remained safe. TSA officers were then escorted away from the restaurant, and fortunately, no one was arrested or injured.

The sheriff’s office stated they ensured public safety and diffused tensions without further incident. They added that the TSA does not engage in any immigration enforcement activities.

While outside, TSA agents were seen interacting with the deputies as demonstrators shouted insults at them. One individual was heard exclaiming, “Damn, you idiot,” and another retorted with the teasing remark, “We’re the TSA.”

Outside the restaurant, a bystander commented that while immigration-related matters evoke strong feelings, there’s an appropriate time and place for such discussions. He pointed out the challenge, saying, “That’s what happens! You end up blaming the wrong people,” echoing the frustration many feel with misdirected anger towards immigration enforcement.

This incident wasn’t isolated. In Minneapolis, tensions have been rising over ICE operations and recent violent acts linked to anti-ICE demonstrators. In that case, several software engineers were misidentified as ICE agents while lunching at a deli, after a warning circulated that plainclothes officers were present.

One of the engineers, who had received alerts via Signal chat about the situation, noted the shock felt by him and his friends when they were falsely accused. He mentioned, “My friend was in shock… he lives nearby and had eaten there before.”

After they exited the deli, they too faced heckling from a nearby crowd. Insults flew, with one protester yelling, “You’re a fucking bootlicker!” while another demanded, “Get out of our neighborhood!”