‘LA under siege by marauding criminals’: Kash Patel slams lawlessness; says FBI can act without permission
FBI Director Kash Patel on Monday strongly condemned the ongoing protests and riots in Los Angeles, vowing that the federal agency will take all necessary steps to restore order amid rising unrest over Trump administration immigration policies and ICE raids.In a firm message posted on X, Patel said, “Just so we are clear, this FBI needs no one’s permission to enforce the constitution. My responsibility is to the American people, not political punch lines. LA is under siege by marauding criminals, and we will restore law and order. I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”The protests, which began in response to aggressive ICE operations across Southern California, have escalated over the weekend. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets, with some incidents turning violent, including arson, vandalism, and clashes with law enforcement. Several vehicles were torched, roads blocked, and tensions remain high in Latino neighbourhoods where immigration enforcement has been concentrated.Pate and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino held a high-level call with senior leadership to assess the federal response to the crisis. According to the FBI, they pledged full support and resources from headquarters to manage the situation, praised FBI components across the country for their readiness, and reinforced their commitment to tracking down and prosecuting anyone who attacks law enforcement officers.Bongino also issued a stern warning to rioters through his own post on X. “If you choose violence tonight, this message is for you. We will be investigating and pursuing all available leads for assault on a federal officer, in addition to the many arrests already made,” he wrote. “And, although we’ll pursue every case, we don’t need to catch every single perp, we just need to catch you… We will not forget. Even after you try to.”Patel followed up with another post targeting those who attack law enforcement officers. “Hit a cop, you’re going to jail… doesn’t matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you. If the local police force won’t back our men and women on the thin blue line, we FBI will,” he said.The statements from federal law enforcement come amid mounting criticism from Democratic leaders, including former US Vice President Kamala Harris and California governor Gavin Newsom, who have called the federal deployment of troops and raids as excessive and politically motivated.
