The situation in Los Angeles escalated again Monday night, and this time, it played out live on national television.
Fox News captured dramatic footage of what appeared to be Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel—part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—tackling a rioter in real time as the streets around them descended further into chaos. The takedown aired during a special edition of Fox News at Night, with reporter Bill Melugin providing real-time commentary as law enforcement surged into action.
“It appears to be California National Guard. Ooh, they are taking somebody down right now,” Melugin narrated, his voice sharp with urgency. “I don’t know who those guys are, what they did… if it says ERO on their back, that would be ICE… some sort of law enforcement, and they clearly did not like what the guy in the yellow was doing right there.”
Seconds later, fireworks exploded in the background. “Looks like a firework just got thrown in… multiple fireworks,” Melugin added, noting the deteriorating atmosphere that intensified as night fell. “That is exactly what happens out here when the sun starts going down.”
These weren’t isolated incidents. They were part of a broader and increasingly aggressive campaign of violence and resistance that erupted after ICE conducted a raid at a Los Angeles-area Home Depot last week. That raid sparked outrage among anti-ICE activists and agitators, culminating in several days of destruction and violence—vandalism, rock-throwing, fireworks aimed at police, and a city locked in gridlock.
🚨 JUST IN: DHS and National Guard just staged an EPIC takedown of a rioter in Los Angeles
THE TRUMP ADMIN ISN’T PLAYING! 🔥
National Guard is increasingly engaging tonight, and 2,000 MORE GUARDSMEN are on the way! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/PTZ0qCk3lX
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 10, 2025
As conditions worsened, President Donald Trump acted decisively, deploying the National Guard on Saturday and ordering 700 Marines to reinforce efforts on Monday. The goal was clear: restore order and protect federal officers and property.
Footage released over the weekend shows just how dire the situation had become. Rioters hurled rocks at ICE vehicles, with one now-viral clip showing a man in a motorcycle helmet smashing windshields as ICE agents were trapped inside. The FBI is now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to that man’s arrest. Photos and video shared by Melugin revealed the extent of the damage—including shattered windshields and at least one visibly injured federal officer.
The law enforcement response now includes HSI—one of the most elite investigative arms within ICE, focused on high-stakes operations like dismantling human trafficking networks, weapons smuggling, financial crimes, and, yes, illegal immigration enforcement. Their presence on the ground is not for show—it is a clear signal that the federal government considers these riots a serious threat to national order and public safety.
In contrast to the dismissive comments from local leadership—Mayor Karen Bass, for example, derided the National Guard deployment as overkill—what’s playing out on the streets shows just how necessary federal intervention has become. The attempt to minimize or spin these events as peaceful protest evaporates in the face of real-time footage showing law enforcement under attack, federal buildings surrounded, and chaos erupting after sundown.
