Two federal employees were hospitalized after a mob of 40 to 50 anti-ICE demonstrators ambushed and assaulted them outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, with attackers filming the brutal confrontation on their phones.

Violent Confrontation Caught on Camera

Video footage captured protesters following federal workers into a parking lot near Alameda and Commercial streets as they finished their shifts. The demonstrators snatched a Bureau of Prisons employee’s clear bag and began striking the workers multiple times. One federal employee was forced to draw his firearm while attempting to retreat from a dozen protesters who continued pursuing him with cameras and mobile phones. The incident escalated into an all-out brawl, with one worker being pummeled near a set of stairs before officers managed to fight off their attackers.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to multiple 911 calls and arrested two protesters in connection with the attacks. The suspects face potential felony and misdemeanor battery charges. Both injured federal employees remain hospitalized with undisclosed injuries. The demonstrators included at least one person carrying a Palestine flag and another with their face covered.

Unprecedented Assault on Federal Officers

First Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli called the persistent attacks on federal agents unprecedented. He stated authorities have never experienced this level of assaults on federal agents before. Essayli warned that anyone who assaults or stalks a federal officer will face arrest and felony charges, emphasizing that attacking officers is not only illegal but extremely dangerous for all parties since officers are permitted to defend themselves with reasonable force.

Detention Center Becomes Activist Target

The Metropolitan Detention Center, which houses both an immigration detention facility and US District Court operations, has become a focal point for activist demonstrations. Protesters have gathered at the location based on rumors that illegal migrants are being secretly detained in the facility’s basement. The Sunday attack represents the most violent escalation in ongoing protests at the federal building, raising serious concerns about the safety of government employees performing their duties.