A furious mob unleashed a vicious assault on federal law enforcement officers Wednesday, as agents moved to arrest two individuals accused of attacking DHS personnel during a raid. The chaos erupted in Oxnard, California, a scene of escalating tension and outright hostility towards those enforcing the law.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents targeted siblings Isai Carrillo, 31, and Virginia Reyes, 32, both U.S. citizens linked to the radical anarchist group VC Defensa. They face charges of conspiracy to impede federal officers, stemming from an incident at a marijuana facility in Camarillo on July 10th.
The initial raid was a desperate attempt to rescue migrant children from the horrors of human trafficking, exploitation, and forced labor hidden within the illicit pot farm. Agents encountered fierce resistance, with rocks and debris hurled at them and their vehicles, a deliberate attempt to obstruct a life-saving operation.
As authorities moved to arrest the siblings, Reyes actively incited the violence, broadcasting the location of the operation on social media. This call to action ignited a volatile crowd, drawing them to the scene and fueling the assault on law enforcement.
Carrillo was apprehended immediately, but Reyes initially attempted to evade capture, surrendering the following day. The scene quickly devolved into a dangerous melee, with officers facing a barrage of projectiles.
During the confrontation, Jesus Posadas-Espinoza, a U.S. citizen, was arrested for directly assaulting officers by throwing rocks at ICE vehicles. Further investigation at the siblings’ residence led to the arrest of four individuals from Mexico – Lorenzo Toribo-Lopez, Talio Toribo-Lopez, Sergio Ortiz-Tenorio, and Victoria Ortiz-Tenorio.
These individuals, all with prior criminal records including illegal entry and driving under the influence causing bodily injury, were turned over to ICE for deportation proceedings. Their presence underscored the complex layers of the situation and the challenges faced by law enforcement.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin delivered a stark warning, revealing a staggering 1,000% surge in assaults against law enforcement and an 8,000% increase in death threats. These officers, she emphasized, risk their lives daily to apprehend dangerous criminals.
The operation targeted by VC Defensa’s obstruction ultimately resulted in the rescue of ten vulnerable migrant children. These children were pulled from a situation of potential exploitation, a testament to the bravery and dedication of the agents involved.
This arrest is part of a broader Justice Department sweep, with ten individuals now facing federal complaints for violence against officers during anti-ICE protests in the Los Angeles area. The investigation highlights a pattern of organized resistance and escalating aggression.
Since June, ICE and CBP have apprehended over 7,100 individuals illegally present in the Los Angeles region alone, demonstrating the scale of the ongoing challenges and the relentless efforts to secure the border and enforce the law.
