A man with a long criminal history was arrested Monday after allegedly throwing multiple Molotov cocktails at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Los Angeles. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the 54-year-old suspect, identified as Jose Francisco Jovel, arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building carrying several incendiary devices and shouting anti-ICE remarks. He then allegedly hurled two Molotov cocktails at officers standing guard. The devices failed to ignite because they were not properly lit, and no federal employees or security officers were injured. Authorities later recovered five additional incendiary devices from the scene.
DHS officials said Jovel admitted he intended to blow up the building and “spray down” the officers inside, continuing to make derogatory comments about ICE personnel. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the incident as part of a rising wave of violent attacks on federal law enforcement, arguing that hostile political rhetoric has fueled real-world assaults. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced that Jovel is charged with attempted malicious damage of federal property and faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to twenty years if convicted.
The attack comes amid heightened concerns over violence against federal officers nationwide. The most recent cases include the fatal shooting of National Guard soldier Spc. Sarah Beckstrom in Washington, D.C., and a deadly incident at an ICE facility in the Dallas area. Federal officials point to a sharp rise in such attacks, noting a 1,150 percent increase since President Donald Trump returned to office, as well as long-term data showing assaults on law enforcement reaching a decade high in 2023.