The clash came a day after ICE officers arrested more than 40 people during coordinated operations across Los Angeles. On Friday, protesters gathered outside a federal detention center demanding the release of those detained, only to be dispersed by police with tear gas and flash bangs.
Protesters attempted to block off the area by overturning shopping carts and igniting a bonfire in the street. Border Patrol agents stood guard outside a nearby industrial park, deploying tear gas to control the crowd. Demonstrators, some holding signs and megaphones, jeered at the agents while recording the scene on their smartphones.
Several Border Patrol and unmarked vehicles attempted to leave the scene, but were met with intense resistance from demonstrators. During the confrontation, multiple vehicles sustained visible damage as protesters clashed with federal agents.
Amid escalating violence, law enforcement personnel in riot gear arrived at the scene of the protest in a trove of vehicles.
Authorities declared an unlawful assembly in Paramount as the protest descended into violent chaos. The term refers to a gathering with the intent to engage in illegal or disruptive behavior that threatens public peace. Police issued repeated warnings over megaphones, announcing that anyone who refused to leave the area would be arrested for failure to disperse.
US Attorney Bill Essayli announced on social media that federal law enforcement operations are “moving forward as planned this weekend in Los Angeles County.” He warned that anyone attempting to interfere with these efforts will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
