A long‑time criminal marched up to agents at the Los Angeles federal immigration facility, flinging unlit Molotov cocktails while loudly hurling anti‑ICE slogans from the street. The 54‑year‑old, Jose Francisco Jovel, who has a criminal record that stretches back almost forty years, was taken into custody after shouting that he’d blow up the building and “spray down” every officer inside.
Jovel had additional bottles of Molotov cocktails in his possession, along with four knives and a Leatherman multi‑tool, but none of the containers were lit, so nothing ignited and no one was hurt. Police confirmed that the bottles did not catch fire and that federal property sustained no damage.
His past offenses include an attempted murder charge from 1987, an armed robbery indictment in 1991, and a 2007 charge of molesting a minor. Authorities also suspect him in setting fire to his own apartment in Koreatown.
“The assault is a clear, intentional attack on federal law enforcement and illustrates the constant danger these heroes face every day as they risk their lives to apprehend murderers, rapists, and gang members,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a Homeland Security statement. She added that ICE agents have recently seen a staggering 1,150 % rise in physical assaults and an 8,000 % jump in death threats since the Trump administration’s hard‑line crackdown on illegal immigration.
The incident occurred in front of the downtown Los Angeles federal building. McLaughlin warned that “our officers are confronting mass assaults, vehicles used as weapons, and even targeted shootings.” She cited the influence of hateful, “un‑American” rhetoric from sanctuary politicians, activists, and the media, which she said fuels such attacks and that Secretary Noem has already made it clear that anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Jovel will likely face arson and explosives‑related charges for the failed attack.
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