Call for Withdrawal of ICE from Los Angeles
During a Tuesday appearance on MSNBC, Democratic Representative Norma Torres from California suggested that the Trump administration should request a withdrawal of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) from the Los Angeles area to help “restore order” in the city. This statement came amid ongoing riots following an ICE incident at a Home Depot, which has now continued for five days.
In response to the chaos, President Trump deployed 700 Marines to support the National Guard as tensions flared. Torres expressed concern that the presence of ICE has “panicked” local communities, which she claims has escalated violence during the protests, where rioters were seen waving Mexican flags.
“I’ve heard from my constituents, and the reaction has been one of absolute horror. These tactics are terrifying,” Torres explained during her interview, highlighting fears among families regarding safety and the risk of not reporting crimes due to the looming presence of law enforcement.
“This is the chaos the President has instigated by sending unidentified ICE officers into the community. They engage in profiling and conduct actions without warrants,” added Torres. “This targeting based on appearance is unacceptable, and it needs to stop. The President must recall these agents.”
Earlier in the week, as the violence escalated, Torres had made a call for ICE to “please back off” during a TikTok video. In a related incident, the FBI released a video showing an individual, identified as Elpido Reyna, throwing rocks at a vehicle that contained an ICE agent. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Reyna’s arrest following the assault.
In the aftermath, video footage captured the damage done to the vehicle and displayed injuries sustained by a federal officer during the riot. Prior to these events, Torres had also advocated for the return of an MS-13 member to the United States, noting that she considers undocumented immigrants to be part of her constituency. This member, Kilmer Abrego Garcia, was returned to face federal charges related to human trafficking.
