Federal immigration agents shot a man during an enforcement operation in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The incident occurred when officers attempted to arrest a suspect who had previously entered the United States illegally and escaped custody. During the traffic stop, the suspect allegedly rammed his vehicle into an agents’ car in an attempt to flee.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “The immigration agents fired ‘defensive shots’ as the man they were trying to arrest rammed their car with his vehicle as he tried to escape a traffic stop.” She added that both the suspect and a U.S. Marshal were hospitalized after being injured in the confrontation.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshal’s office, Tlaloc Olvera, confirmed that one of their officers was hit in the hand by a ricochet bullet while assisting with immigration enforcement. The officer’s injury is not life-threatening and he is reported to be in stable condition.
“These are the consequences of conduct and rhetoric by sanctuary politicians and activists who urge illegal aliens to resist arrest,” McLaughlin said.
The Los Angeles Police Department clarified that its officers were only providing traffic control at the scene and did not participate directly in the federal operation.
This incident follows other recent confrontations involving federal immigration authorities. Last month, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot a suspect after being driven at by a vehicle during an enforcement action. In another case this August, a person fleeing from federal agents died after being struck on a Southern California freeway.
ICE has reported an increase in assaults against its officers over recent months. From January 21 through October 1 of this year, there have been 172 reported assaults against ICE personnel, compared to 15 during the same period last year.
