Trump Administration Steps Up Action Against Suspects Accused of Attacking ICE Agents

The Trump administration is moving aggressively to prosecute individuals accused of assaulting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, as federal officials say violence against immigration agents is on the rise nationwide.

In recent months, ICE officers and other federal agents enforcing U.S. immigration laws have increasingly faced physical attacks during operations. The latest arrests suggest the federal government is prepared to deliver what officials describe as “serious federal consequences” for those involved.

On Friday, Gregory K. Bovino, Commander of Operation at Large California and current Chief of the El Centro Border Patrol Sector, announced the arrest of a U.S. citizen in Los Angeles accused of spitting on ICE agents during a deportation operation. Bovino posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing members of the Border Patrol’s elite BORTAC special operations team swiftly detaining the suspect, who was wearing an anti-ICE t-shirt.

“This U.S. citizen is accused of assaulting a federal agent by spitting on him during an immigration arrest under Operation at Large,” Bovino wrote. “California may coddle criminals, but we don’t. If you assault a federal agent, you earn federal consequences. Remember: When talking to federal law enforcement officers, say it — don’t spray it.”

The Los Angeles case is just one of several recent incidents drawing attention. In Oregon, federal prosecutors have charged 24-year-old Robert Jacob Hoopes with aggravated assault of a federal officer using a dangerous weapon and depredation of federal property. According to court documents, Hoopes was involved in a June 14, 2025 protest outside the ICE office in South Portland, where he allegedly threw large rocks at the building and struck an ICE officer in the head, causing a deep laceration above the officer’s eye.

Later that day, authorities say Hoopes and two others used an overturned stop sign as a battering ram to damage the building’s main entry door. Hoopes was identified through photographs posted online. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon reports that since June 13, 2025, a total of 23 defendants have been charged with offenses tied to incidents at the Portland ICE facility, including assaulting federal officers, arson, possession of destructive devices, and destruction of government property.

Another high-profile case emerged in Los Angeles on July 25, when two medical clinic employees — Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highland, and Danielle Nadine Davila, of Corona — were arrested. They now face charges of assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent a federal officer from carrying out official duties through force and intimidation.

The Department of Homeland Security reports a dramatic spike in such incidents, with assaults on ICE officials rising by 830 percent between January 21 and July 14, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

Federal authorities say the surge in violence is unacceptable and warn that anyone who attacks immigration officers will face the full weight of federal law.