NOTE: X POST at the end of the article.
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino has issued a stern warning following a wave of tense protests in Los Angeles that erupted during targeted ICE enforcement operations. Describing the events as a potential “insurrection,” Bongino made clear that federal law enforcement will not tolerate violence or interference with immigration efforts.
On June 7, demonstrations broke out after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began carrying out deportation and criminal arrest warrants across the Los Angeles area. Protesters, alerted by social media and activist networks, gathered near ICE’s staging area in Paramount, mistakenly believing there was a large-scale raid taking place at a local Home Depot. Though no such raid occurred, tensions quickly escalated.
In response, Bongino took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the unrest. “The right to assemble and protest does not include a license to attack law enforcement officers or obstruct lawful immigration operations,” he posted. “We are thoroughly reviewing the evidence from yesterday’s incident in Los Angeles, and we are working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. The days of chaos ruling the streets are over. Either obey the law, or go to jail—there’s no third option.”
Federal agents, including members of the FBI, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Border Patrol, were called in to assist ICE. Their presence was aimed at ensuring the safety of the operations, which involved enforcing final deportation orders and apprehending individuals with confirmed criminal backgrounds.
In a follow-up post, Bongino confirmed that arrests had already been made for obstructing federal officers and warned that more were coming: “We are pouring through the videos for more perpetrators. You bring chaos, and we’ll bring handcuffs. Law and order will prevail.”
Adding further context, Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported that ICE’s operations were focused and legally authorized. “Despite local claims, there was no ICE ‘raid’ at a Home Depot in LA today,” Melugin wrote. “ICE is using a nearby office in Paramount as a staging area and is conducting targeted enforcement. They are serving criminal judicial warrants and enforcing final removal orders.”
Melugin also stressed that the enforcement effort was in line with long-standing immigration laws. “This is not a neighborhood sweep,” he clarified. “If others are found with the targets and are also undocumented, they may be detained—but the operation is focused on those with legal deportation orders or federal criminal convictions.”
As tensions remain high, Bongino’s message signals a firm federal stance: protest is protected—but obstructing law enforcement is not.
