Student protesters violently attacked three federal officers in downtown Los Angeles, sending one to the hospital with a concussion, while authorities issued a stark warning to parents who enable their children to skip school and assault law enforcement.
Students Walk Out of Class to Attack Federal Officers
Middle and high school students from across the Los Angeles area abandoned their classrooms, converging on an ICE building and the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. What began as demonstrations around 12:30 p.m. quickly devolved into violence when protesters hurled rocks and other objects at federal officers protecting the facilities.
Three officers sustained injuries requiring medical attention, including one Federal Protective Service officer transported to the hospital with a concussion. The attackers exploited the crowd of 200-300 demonstrators to evade capture, blending back into the march after committing their assaults.
Vandalism and Traffic Chaos Mark Protest Timeline
The violence unfolded systematically throughout the afternoon as protesters moved through downtown Los Angeles. By 1:10 p.m., vandalism reports emerged on Los Angeles Street near East Aliso Street, and additional property damage occurred at 1:25 p.m., when demonstrators relocated to North Alameda Street.
The most serious assault occurred between 1:34 and 1:40 p.m., when rioters attacked federal agents with rocks and projectiles. Helicopter footage captured scenes of protesters shoving officers and throwing objects while federal agents responded with Tasers and batons. Throughout the melee, demonstrators blocked traffic lanes and created public safety hazards while displaying anti-Trump signs and waving U.S. and Mexican flags.
Federal and Local Authorities Issue Stern Warnings
The Department of Homeland Security issued an unambiguous statement declaring that assaulting federal law enforcement constitutes a felony that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem made clear the Trump administration’s commitment to law and order, directing aggressive prosecution of those who obstruct immigration enforcement. Top federal prosecutor Bill Essayli in Los Angeles ordered on-the-spot arrests for both adults and teens involved in criminal activity, with offenders facing weekend detention. The LAPD joined federal authorities in issuing warnings, urging students to remain in school during anti-ICE walkouts and explicitly cautioning parents that adults who aid minors in illegal acts will face delinquency charges themselves.
Pattern of Escalating Violence Against Law Enforcement
This attack represents the latest escalation in a disturbing pattern of violence against immigration enforcement officers. Earlier in February 2026, the LAPD issued a dispersal order for another anti-ICE student protest that resulted in four detentions for felony vandalism. In June of the previous year, students struck a Border Patrol agent during a Los Angeles protest. Beyond California, anti-ICE agitators have committed even more shocking assaults, including a recent Minneapolis incident where a protester bit off a federal officer’s finger. The coordinated student walkouts have spread across LA, Long Beach, and Pasadena school districts, extending to UCLA, USC, and Cal State campuses as activists mobilize against the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement.
LAPD 's grave warning to students, parents after vicious teens attack officers in wild anti-ICE melee https://t.co/BvXam6n01h pic.twitter.com/ZCqYwkmzc0
— New York Post (@nypost) February 17, 2026
Despite video evidence captured by news helicopters documenting the assaults, no arrests have been made as of mid-February 2026. Investigators continue reviewing footage while suspects remain at large, having successfully disappeared into the crowd of demonstrators. The lack of immediate accountability underscores the challenge law enforcement faces when violent agitators exploit peaceful protesters as cover for criminal acts. This incident exposes the dangerous consequences when schools fail to maintain control over students during instructional hours and when adults encourage minors to engage in illegal activity under the guise of political protest. The injuries inflicted on officers protecting federal facilities demonstrate the real-world stakes when lawlessness goes unchecked, threatening the safety of those sworn to uphold immigration law and national security.
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3 federal officers hurt after protesters threw rocks, other objects in downtown Los Angeles
Federal agent attacked, hospitalized in anti-ICE protest in downtown LA
Federal agent injured in clash with protesters in downtown LA during student walkout
Federal agent injured in downtown LA as more students walk out to protest ongoing immigration raids
LAPD asks students to stay in school during wave of anti-ICE walkouts