Last Friday, a violent ICE arrest went viral after masked agents pushed an unarmed bystander walking his dogs into a bush and pointed a gun in his face. Before being threatened with the firearm, the bystander picked up and threw a canister of pepper spray to the side, and upon seeing the ICE agents rush towards him, exclaimed, “I thought it was his!” The violent scene, which has since gone viral on social media, drew sharp criticism from California lawmakers.
Governor Gavin Newsom demanded an investigation into the incident, and Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement saying, “this is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in L.A. I’m engaging the Attorney General’s Office to investigate and prosecute any wrongdoing by these federal agents.” In response to criticism online and from lawmakers, the Department of Homeland Security issued the following statement.
“On October 30, 2026, ICE officers arrested Angel Luis Gonzalez Lobo, an illegal alien from Venezuela with a final order of removal during a targeted operation in North Hollywood.
In July 2023, Gonzalez Lobo entered the country using the disastrous Biden administration CBP One app and was then released into the country completely unvetted. He was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge after failing to show up for his court date. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process. This administration will not ignore the rule of law.
During the arrest, Gonzalez Lobo fled on foot from his vehicle and then physically resisted officers while refusing lawful commands. At the same time, a bystander armed with pepper spray encountered the officers, creating a moment of chaos in an otherwise controlled scene. These actions by these individuals created an unnecessarily dangerous, and precarious environment for federal law enforcement as they endeavored to carry out their lawful duties and effect an arrest.
Officers relied on their training and took all available measures to safely secure the scene, controlling both individuals, who had created chaos, without further incident.
Violence against ICE officers, or any law enforcement personnel, will not be tolerated. Our officers carry out their Congressionally mandated duties in service to public safety and the rule of law. Any bystander or individual who assaults, obstructs, or violently attacks officers will be subject to arrest and prosecution permitted by law.
We have seen a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement. Our brave law enforcement is facing more than a 1,600% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. This violence must end. Anybody who lays a hand on our officers or tries to obstruct them is committing a felony and a federal crime.”
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