A chaotic scene unfolded in Los Angeles on Tuesday when ICE officers violently detained U.S. citizen Luis Hipolito, sparking outrage and chilling reminders of the George Floyd tragedy. The arrest, captured on video by bystanders, shows officers—including one in “Police ICE” gear—tackling Hipolito to the pavement, with multiple knees pressed into his back as he’s handcuffed.
Homeland Security Responds: Assault on ICE Officer
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement Friday confirming the arrest. She claims Hipolito assaulted an ICE agent, while Andrea Guadalupe Velez, also a U.S. citizen, was arrested for obstructing the operation by making physical contact with officers.
“If you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” McLaughlin stated. “Our ICE officers are facing a 500 percent increase in assaults during enforcement operations.”
The Incident: Curbside Chaos
According to the affidavit, the ICE operation was underway when Hipolito allegedly refused to move from the path of ICE vehicles. After being pepper-sprayed, he reportedly punched a deportation officer identified as “C.C.”. Moments later, footage shows him thrown to the ground as officers struggle to subdue him.
One bystander can be heard yelling, “You gonna let him die?!” as officers kept their knees pinned on Hipolito’s back—eerily echoing scenes from the 2020 police killing of George Floyd.
ICE Crackdowns Heat Up in Los Angeles
This incident comes amid ramped-up ICE activity in L.A., with federal agents conducting surprise enforcement raids in neighborhoods and outside locations like Home Depot. Earlier this week, masked agents detained multiple day laborers, pulling individuals into unmarked vans, as caught in another viral video.
The target of Tuesday’s operation was an undocumented immigrant, according to DHS. However, the arrests of two American citizens—especially the physical force used—have raised serious questions about excessive policing and civil liberties.
What’s Next?
Luis Hipolito faces federal assault charges, and Velez is accused of interfering with law enforcement. Civil rights advocates are already calling for investigations into ICE’s use of force and questioning whether racial profiling or overreach played a role.
