FBI’s Dan Bongino announces over 700 arrests tied to LA riots

Federal agencies have just rounded up over 700 individuals tied to violent riots in California over U.S. immigration law enforcement.

This sweeping operation, announced by FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, coordinated with state and federal partners, targets those involved in semi-organized protests and blockades against border policy enforcement, often resulting in property damage and attacks on law enforcement, as Breitbart reports.

These disturbances, centered in California, have seen rioters hurling rocks, launching fireworks packed with nails, and even tossing Molotov cocktails at officers.

Violent clashes erupt

Activities during these riots read like a dystopian novel — think commandeering freeways, blocking intersections with burning dumpsters, and looting major retailers like Adidas and Apple.

Defacing landmarks with graffiti and dropping objects from overpasses onto officers below are just the tip of the iceberg. It’s chaos, plain and simple, and it’s clear that actions do indeed have consequences.

Bongino took to social media on June 21 to underscore the severity of the response, tweeting, “We warned those violently acting out… we would not tolerate it.”

FBI vows to pursue more suspects

His follow-up message was equally stern, noting over 700 arrests and promising more to come as agencies sift through data to nab additional bad actors. Many of those detained belong to organized groups, which raises questions about the coordination behind these violent outbursts.

Bongino’s words, “I told you we would not forget,” carry a weight that suggests the feds are playing a long game here. Turns out, memory lane has a federal badge.

While specifics on charges or potential sentences remain under wraps, the focus seems laser-sharp on those who attacked officers and wrecked property. Meanwhile, California’s state and local police appear to be sitting this one out, offering little resistance to the opposition against federal enforcement.

Local media, politics stir the pot

California’s pro-migration media hasn’t shied away from sympathizing with the protesters, with outlets like the Los Angeles Times spotlighting individuals like Job Garcia, who filmed an arrest and was briefly detained but not charged. Garcia’s story, featured on June 21, paints a picture of personal defiance against federal agents.

Garcia recalled, “My first reaction was to… push his hand off.” That impulse, while understandable on a human level, underscores the tense standoffs fueling these clashes—yet it’s hard to justify escalating to violence over policy disagreements.

Then there’s Adrian Martinez, a citizen charged with impeding a federal officer, who told Garcia, “They were bullying this older guy.” Sympathy for the underdog is one thing, but obstructing law enforcement in a volatile situation is a risky line to cross, and it’s no surprise charges followed.

California policies under scrutiny amid unrest

Local Democrat leaders, predictably, point fingers at President Trump’s immigration enforcement as the sole cause of the street fighting, ignoring the broader context of California’s own policies. High taxes, unaffordable housing, and crime—exacerbated by reliance on waves of unauthorized migrants to offset a squeezed middle class — paint a grimmer picture.

Census data from April 2023 shows the state’s child poverty rates among the worst in the nation, a statistic that should give pause to those championing unchecked migration policies. It’s a complex mess, and dodging accountability won’t fix broken systems.

On the flip side, White House tweets on June 17 highlighted a 2% wage bump for blue-collar workers tied to stricter migration controls, suggesting enforcement might be lifting American paychecks. While California’s establishment downplays the riots’ scope — arguing they’re not as bad as 1992’s chaos and decrying federal backup as overreach—the violence on the ground tells a different story. It’s a messy debate, but ignoring law and order for political points won’t rebuild looted stores or protect officers under fire.