Teacher Under Investigation by DOJ for Aggressive Threat Against ICE

Teacher Under Investigation for Comments on ICE

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking into a California teacher after he made comments deemed threatening towards immigration officials, as reported by a news outlet.

Ron Gochez, a history teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, spoke at a recent news conference criticizing the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He stated that ICE agents “are not the only ones with guns” and that “people have every right to protect themselves” from them. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, indicated that Gochez’s remarks endangered the lives of agency employees and seemed to be of a criminal nature.

McLaughlin emphasized that suggesting violence against law enforcement is fundamentally un-American, especially considering that educators should model positive behavior for the youth. She mentioned that DHS would refer the case to the Department of Justice.

She also noted a significant increase in attacks against law enforcement, including serious incidents involving weapons. “Words have consequences,” McLaughlin cautioned, asserting that rhetoric like Gochez’s could lead to tragic outcomes for officers.

Neither the Los Angeles Unified School District, Gochez, nor the Department of Justice responded to requests for comments regarding this situation. Gochez was representing the activist group Union del Barrio (UDB) during the press conference, which also did not provide any comments.

In defense of his statements, Gochez insisted he wasn’t advocating violence but did praise individuals who resisted ICE actions, making references to riots that occurred in the area. He acknowledged the tense environment, claiming, “This is South Central Los Angeles… They’re not the only people in this city with guns.” Gochez argued that the community has the right to defend themselves against threats.

He further claimed that previous protests have successfully diminished ICE raids, recalling events where rioters used hard objects against federal officers during protests initiated in June. “They caught some bricks. Guys, remember Paramount? They caught those bricks,” he mentioned, asserting the determination of local residents to stand up against ICE actions.

Earlier, the Senate’s Crime and Counterterrorism Subcommittee conducted an investigation into the activities surrounding California’s anti-ICE protests, with UBD denying any involvement in illegal activities.