Previously-deported illegal immigrant charged with attempted murder for throwing Molotov at law enforcement during LA anti-ICE riots

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Wednesday that ICE agents have arrested an illegal immigrant from Mexico, who had been deported from the US previously, for attempted murder in connection with throwing a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement during Los Angeles’ anti-ICE riots. 

Emiliano Garduno-Galvez was arrested by ICE on Monday. In addition to being previously deported, Garduno-Galvez has a criminal record that includes an arrest by the Anaheim Police Department for grand theft and an arrest by the Long Beach Police Department for a DUI. Both arrests took place in 2024. 

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, "Emiliano Garduno-Galvez is a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who threatened the lives of federal law enforcement officers by attacking them with a Molotov cocktail during the violent riots in Los Angeles. ICE arrested Garduno-Galvez, and he is now being charged with attempted murder.

"These are the types of criminal illegal aliens that rioters are fighting to protect. The Los Angeles rioters will not stop us or slow us down. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Los Angeles has seen nightly riots and protests since last Friday over immigration operations in the city. On Tuesday evening, Mayor Karen Bass announced that a curfew would be put in place that would likely last "several days" in an effort to "stop the vandalism, to stop the looting." Bass said that 23 businesses had been looted on Monday night alone. 

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that his department made 197 arrests on Tuesday night. Of those arrests, 130 took place near Commercial Street and Alameda, and 67 were of demonstrators who blocked the 101 Freeway. Charges included failure to disperse, vandalism, looting, attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail, resisting arrest, and other counts. 

Over the weekend, rioters were seen setting fire to autonomous Waymo vehicles, law enforcement was attacked, and buildings were vandalized. Thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to the area, as well as hundreds of Marines, to quell the violence.