During a targeted operation in the Los Angeles area, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and U.S. Marshals attempted to apprehend an illegal migrant who previously escaped from custody, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation. However, the migrant allegedly used his vehicle to ram officers in an attempt to get away.
Agents allegedly fired defensive rounds in return, which hit the migrant in the elbow, but also ricocheted and hit an officer’s hand, according to DHS.
“This is a developing situation and information is preliminary: During a targeted enforcement traffic stop in the Los Angeles area, an illegal alien — who had previously escaped from custody — attempted to evade arrest yet again,” assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement provided to the DCNF. “ICE law enforcement officers, assisted by U.S. Marshals, pulled the illegal alien over in a standard law enforcement procedure.”
A U.S. Marshal and a criminal alien were both shot this morning in Los Angeles during a federal immigration operation.
Agents boxed in a suspect who then rammed federal vehicles trying to escape, prompting agents to open fire.
One Marshal was hit in the hand by a ricochet. The… pic.twitter.com/8FvfAGbTfn
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 21, 2025
The DHS assistant secretary — who confirmed that both the illegal migrant and agent have been hospitalized — ripped Democrats for their demonizing language against federal immigration authorities.
“These are the consequences of conduct and rhetoric by sanctuary politicians and activists who urge illegal aliens to resist arrest,” McLaughlin stated. “Resisting arrest puts the safety of illegal aliens, law enforcement, and the public at risk.”
“Our law enforcement officers are facing a more than 1000% increase in assaults against them including vehicle rammings by illegal aliens,” McLaughlin continued. “We are once again calling on sanctuary politicians, agitators, and the media to turn the temperature down and stop calling for violence and resistance against ICE law enforcement.”
DHS pointed to examples of “sanctuary politicians” providing resources and tips on how to defy ICE, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom releasing guides on how to recognize ICE agents, LA Mayor Karen Bass issuing multilingual flyers advising illegal migrants how to evade apprehension and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosting a webinar that provided tips for illegal migrants to evade arrest.
Anti-ICE protests across L.A. — a city with official policies prohibiting cooperation between immigration agents and local officials — began taking over earlier in June in response to the Trump administration’s crackdown and quickly escalated into full-scale riots. The chaos began when over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal building, defaced government property, assaulted agents, and slashed tires, ICE confirmed at the time.
Hundreds of rioters were arrested amid the chaos, which caused millions in damage to the city. However, the widespread protests did not stop immigration agents from conducting its mission, with DHS celebrating its 5,000th arrest in L.A. earlier in August.
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