Federal authorities apprehended Alejandro Theodoro Orellana on Thursday morning, June 12, in a neighborhood of east Los Angeles for allegedly handing out face shields during a violent protest. The arrest followed a week of protests against ICE raids that began June 6 and included mostly peaceful demonstrations with some violent incidents.
Orellana was charged with planning to incite civil unrest after distributing riot gear to individuals believed to be involved in the immigration protests. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that efforts are underway at a rapid pace to find and apprehend individuals who played a role in coordinating or aiding disturbances in Los Angeles.
The arrest highlights federal efforts to address unrest amid larger political conflicts over immigration enforcement and protest responses in California.
