A 54-year-old man with a nearly four-decade criminal record was arrested Monday after attempting to attack a federal immigration facility in Los Angeles with Molotov cocktails while shouting anti-ICE statements, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Officials said the suspect arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building armed with multiple Molotov cocktails and began yelling anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement remarks at officers stationed near the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices. A contract Protective Security Officer reported that the man threw two Molotov cocktails toward officers guarding the facility. The bottles were not ignited and did not cause injuries or property damage.
Authorities said the man was taken into custody at the scene and told officers he intended to blow up the building and “spray down” officers, continuing to make additional statements targeting ICE personnel. DHS said the suspect was carrying four knives and a Leatherman tool at the time of his arrest.
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin described the incident as “a clear and deliberate attack on federal law enforcement,” noting that ICE officers have faced an unprecedented rise in threats and assaults. McLaughlin said officers are routinely targeted in vehicle rammings, shootings, and other violent attacks and linked the trend to rhetoric directed at ICE by activist groups and political leaders.
If the cops don’t show up when someone throws a Molotov cocktail at your house, you might be living in Gavin Newsom‘s lawless California pic.twitter.com/stWH9UfDPu
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) November 18, 2025
DHS said assaults against ICE personnel have increased by 1,150% and reported an 8,000% rise in death threats. The failed attack in Los Angeles occurred days after two National Guardsmen were killed during an ambush shooting near the White House.
According to DHS, the suspect’s criminal history includes charges dating back to 1987, including attempted murder, armed robbery, and a 2007 charge involving a minor. Federal officials said the man remains in custody as the investigation continues.
