Man Arrested For Carrying Out ‘Terrorist Attack’ In California Targeting ICE: FBI

A 54-year-old man has been arrested after carrying out a self-described “terrorist attack” by throwing Molotov cocktails at security officers outside of a federal building in California that houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices, the Justice Department said Tuesday. 

Jose Francisco Jovel was accused by federal investigators of carrying out the attack on Monday at a building in Los Angeles that houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices. Investigators say that the attack was motivated by opposition to the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. 

“This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.”

Jovel, who lives in Koreatown, has been charged with attempted malicious damage of federal property and is expected to appear in federal court on Wednesday.  Essayli said that additional charges may be added. 

On Monday, Jovel rode his bike to the Federal Building located in the Civic Center of downtown Los Angeles hours after lighting his own apartment on fire after being evicted, prosecutors said. He then allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail through a sliding door of an employee entrance to the building before throwing another one into the public door. While the bottles did not catch on fire, investigators say that surveillance footage shows Jovel trying to light one of the devices on fire. 

Jovel was then arrested by federal officers who found five more Molotov cocktails and a lighter in his possession, investigators say. He was also found with knives and was making anti-ICE comments, according to federal law enforcement sources. 

Officers reported hearing Jovel say he was motivated by his anger at the Trump administration’s immigration policies. He allegedly referred to his actions as “a terrorist attack” and told officers, “you’re separating families” before urging nearby people to “start shooting these” officers. The attack prompted the buildings lobby to be shutdown for the investigation. 

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If convicted, Jovel will face a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years. 

“There can be zero tolerance for any targeting of law enforcement officials – let alone violent acts – and we’re lucky that the devices allegedly thrown by the subject did not physically injure anyone,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is dedicated to investigating and holding accountable anyone who conducts targeted attacks against government employees.”

The Department of Homeland Security said that Jovel has a criminal history that includes arrests for attempted murder in 1987, robbery with a firearm in 1991, and molesting a victim under the age of 18 in 2007, Fox 11 reported.

In recent months, ICE agents have faced a surge in violent attacks and threats as they carry out the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.