Acting ICE Director on LA Riots: 'That's Anarchy and That's Violence'

Response to Los Angeles Riots

• 🎯 Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons directly refutes claims of peaceful protest in Los Angeles, stating he witnessed devastation and destruction firsthand.
• ⚠️ He describes the events as anarchy and violence, not a peaceful demonstration, especially after witnessing the breach of a federal building where officers were trapped.
• 🗣️ Lyons criticizes elected officials for downplaying the severity of the situation, emphasizing that such actions have no place in America.

ICE Operations Amidst Unrest

• ⚡ ICE operations in downtown Los Angeles have not stopped, despite the unrest, and will not be impeded.
• 🤝 DoD assets are present to ensure ICE and DOJ partners can conduct their lawful law enforcement mission safely.
• 🎯 The focus is on removing public safety threats such as violent criminal gangs, suspected terrorists, child rapists, and fentanyl dealers.

Enforcement Priorities and Immigration Law

• ⚖️ ICE is enforcing the Immigration Nationality Act and federal immigration laws, using limited resources to prioritize public safety threats.
• 🚨 If individuals are found to have broken immigration law, ICE will take action, similar to how a police department handles misdemeanor offenses.
• 📈 ICE has had its hands tied for years and is now operating to its full extent to arrest, detain, and remove those who violate immigration law.

Deportation Numbers and Policy

• 🗣️ Administration officials, including Stephen Miller, have expressed a desire for increased deportation numbers to enforce immigration law more rigorously.
• 🚀 Lyons anticipates seeing these numbers go up as ICE is now permitted to fully execute its law enforcement mission.
• ⚠️ Enforcement actions will increase, including encountering individuals who may be here illegally or have been ordered to leave by an immigration judge, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions.

Encouraging Voluntary Departure

• ✈️ Lyons encourages individuals in the U.S. illegally to take the opportunity to return to their home countries, where they can potentially re-enter lawfully.
• 🔍 He warns that if individuals are here illegally, ICE will find them.
• 👏 The LAPD is commended for their efforts in protecting the city, despite challenges posed by sanctuary jurisdictions.