Elpidio Reyna, a violent rioter who was captured on video throwing rocks at the windshields of Border Patrol vehicles in Los Angeles, was arrested on Wednesday at the U.S.-Mexico border. The incident, which occurred during the height of the Los Angeles anti-ICE riots, has drawn significant attention for the violence against federal officers.
Video footage of the alleged attack shows Reyna, wearing a motorcycle helmet, picking up multiple large rocks and hurling them at moving Border Patrol vehicles in Paramount, California on June 7. According to Bill Essayli, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Reyna was apprehended at the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego. One federal officer was injured during the attack, and Reyna faced charges of assault on a federal officer.
Essayli stated that Reyna, referred to as a ‘dangerous felon,’ surrendered to federal authorities at the U.S.-Mexico border. He emphasized that Reyna’s arrest demonstrates that anyone who violates federal law can be found and charged. ‘To anyone who thinks they can attack federal officers and hide behind a mask or helmet, Reyna’s arrest today proves we can find and charge anyone who violates federal law,’ he said.
FBI Director Kash Patel expressed his support for the arrest, stating, ‘The FBI will never tolerate violence against those who serve and protect this country.’ Deputy Director Dan Bongino also commented on the incident, posting on X, ‘You may remember Elpidio Reyna, a subject who allegedly threw rocks at federal officers during immigration operations in California June 7. We got him.’
The violent riots in Los Angeles have been a significant source of controversy, with the Trump administration deploying 700 Marines and federalizing 4,000 National Guard soldiers to quell the unrest. This move was met with criticism from California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who argued that the National Guard troops were likely violating the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits troops from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil.
Newsom won an early legal victory when a federal judge ruled the Guard deployment was illegal and exceeded Trump’s authority. However, an appeals court later overturned that order, and control of the troops remained with the federal government. The federal court is set to hear arguments next month on whether the troops are violating the Posse Comitatus Act.
The arrest of Reyna comes amid broader efforts by federal authorities to address the violence against law enforcement, including the nationwide crackdown on criminal illegal aliens announced by DHS, which has led to the arrest of ‘worst of the worst’ individuals.