LA anti-ICE protest: Federal charges announced in Molotov cocktail case

Federal charges announced in anti-ICE protests

Two Los Angeles County men have been hit with federal charges on accusations of engaging in criminal acts during anti-ICE protests over the weekend.

LOS ANGELES - On Wednesday morning, federal officials identified the man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest in Paramount over the weekend.  

Federal officials release video of the incident

What we know:

Man throws Molotov cocktail during protest

The Department of Homeland Security released video of the man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement during an anti-ICE protest over the weekend.

Video released by the Department of Homeland Security shows the moments before a suspect threw the crude bomb at law enforcement.

The video begins by showing a masked man in dark clothing with a lighter hiding behind a tree. As the suspect walked between the tree and a crowd, he then set some items on fire before the video shows him throwing the device.

Emiliano Garduno-Galvez (Department of Homeland Security)

DHS identified the suspect as 23-year-old Emiliano Garduno-Galvez, of Paramount. The agency said in 2024 he was arrested in Anaheim for grand theft and for a DUI in Long Beach. In addition, he had been previously deported. 

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Garduno-Galvez has been charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

What they're saying:

"When protesting crosses the line into violence, the penalties will be severe," said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. "Possessing a Molotov cocktail or another destructive device is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. The vile attacks such as the ones alleged in these complaints could have resulted in life-altering or life-ending injuries to police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and innocent bystanders. We will not relent in dispensing swift justice to criminals who take advantage of our country’s freedoms to engage in lawlessness."

The backstory:

The recent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles erupted following widespread anger over the agency's enforcement tactics that began on Friday, June 6. Community leaders reported incidents of ICE appearing at elementary school graduations, disrupting the legitimate immigration processes at various courthouses, and aggressively raiding workplaces and locations like Home Depot. These actions, perceived as arbitrary and invasive, sparked outrage among residents and galvanized the public into widespread demonstrations across Los Angeles County.

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