Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a strong warning during a Fox News interview, addressing the violent protests in Los Angeles related to ICE deportations. She criticized the city’s deteriorating condition, likening it to a “Third World country,” and stressed the federal government’s intent to prosecute those involved in assaults on law enforcement, looting, or rioting. Bondi emphasized that if California authorities failed to act, the Department of Justice would intervene, using federal statutes to hold offenders accountable. So far, nine individuals face federal charges, with more under investigation. Charges include assault on federal officers, robbery under the Hobbs Act, and using Molotov cocktails and other violent tactics. Bondi underscored that even spitting on officers would not go unpunished under federal law.

She warned that the Trump administration would take aggressive legal action to protect law and order. Bondi stated that federal authorities would not tolerate attacks on police or public property and are prepared to step in where local leadership fails. Her message was unambiguous: the federal government would use all legal tools available to pursue harsh penalties, potentially including 20-year prison terms. Bondi’s remarks reflected broader tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement and civil unrest. Her statements align with former President Donald Trump’s tough-on-crime stance and reinforce the administration’s willingness to override local governance when it perceives inaction or resistance. The legal response to the unrest marks a significant escalation in federal involvement in local law enforcement issues.