Attempted Murder Charges for Deportee Amid LA Riots

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Emiliano Garduno Garvez, an undocumented immigrant previously deported from Mexico, is set to face charges for attempted murder connected to recent riots in Los Angeles.

Footage released by DHS on June 7 captured Garduno-Galvez as he lit a Molotov cocktail, which he then threw at law enforcement as they approached. He was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on June 9, just a day after his video footage went public, and was formally charged the following day.

Garduno Garvez has a prior criminal record, including charges of grand theft and DUI. “This is the kind of criminal that protesters are defending,” Deputy Director Tricia McLaughlin stated when announcing his arrest. “If you assault a law enforcement officer, you will face severe consequences.”

Meanwhile, unrest sparked by ICE actions against undocumented immigrants has spread across California and beyond. The Santa Ana Police Department issued a statement reiterating the right to “peaceful gatherings” in relation to the protests. Interestingly, some major media outlets have hesitated to label the situation as riots; in several reports, MSNBC and CNN referred to the events as “peaceful” over 170 times.

On a contrasting note, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses expressed firm support for ICE operations in Los Angeles, stating that the U.S. has “zero tolerance” for attacks on federal agents and supporting the potential involvement of the National Guard if required.