A federal officer was injured on Wednesday during an immigration enforcement operation in California, according to the Trump administration.
The incident in Los Angeles occurred as officers attempted to apprehend William Eduardo Moran Carballo, a Salvadoran illegal immigrant with a criminal history, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Carballo was involved in human smuggling and had two prior arrests for “inflicting corporal injury” on his partner, the department said.
The Trump administration accused Carballo of weaponizing his vehicle and ramming law enforcement as he sought to evade arrest. A federal officer fired “defensive shots” during the car chase, but did not hit or injure Carballo, before the illegal immigrant was successfully apprehended, DHS said in a statement.
However, the department said a Customs and Border Protection officer was injured. The incident took place in the Willowbrook area.
DHS cast blame on Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and other “sanctuary politicians” accused of encouraging illegal immigrants to evade arrest. The department said officers are facing a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks.
“These dangerous attempts to evade arrest have surged since sanctuary politicians, including Governor Newsom, have encouraged illegal aliens to evade arrest and provided guides advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry, and defy arrest,” the statement said.
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The incident on Wednesday morning comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been under increasing scrutiny for how it carries out operations, which often happen alongside CBP.
The Trump administration pressed ahead with ICE operations in Maine on Wednesday, as the White House largely dismisses concerns about an officer who killed a Minnesota woman in a controversial encounter. Renee Good was accused by DHS of deliberately trying to kill federal officers with her vehicle when she struck one with her SUV, causing internal bleeding.
