When protests against ICE enforcement in Los Angeles turned chaotic, demonstrators blocked streets, threw projectiles at officers, and clashed with police. Despite these actions, few immediate arrests were made—a fact that drew sharp criticism from the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), which argued that arrests “should have been a no-brainer.” However, the full story is far more complex than that portrayal.
A key element in the unfolding events was a breakdown in communication between a Lieutenant on the ground and LAPD command.
While Fox News’ article by Jamie Joseph—normally known for challenging mainstream narratives—relied heavily on LAPPL’s version of events, it did not fully explore the legal and operational realities on the ground. Specifically, the article neglected to account for how critical factors such as the need for citation books, officer discretion, and the requirement for new dispersal orders at each location influenced decision-making.
What Happened at the ICE Protests?
As tensions escalated, officers were met with projectiles, prompting LAPD to declare an unlawful assembly. A group of protesters was contained inside a tunnel, where officers initially anticipated making arrests under Penal Code 409 PC for failure to disperse at an unlawful assembly.
Commander Lillian Carranza, who was the incident commander at the time, wanted arrests to be made. However, a breakdown in communication between a lieutenant on the ground and LAPD command complicated the response. Initially, Carranza was informed by the lieutenant that citations could not be issued because officers did not have citation books. She then directed that citation books be delivered to the scene. Later, the lieutenant told Carranza that arrests or citations were no longer possible because the protesters had moved onto the sidewalk.
Further complicating matters, the lieutenant also notified Carranza that citations could not be issued because officers were unable to positively identify the protesters who had previously been in the street. If the officers on scene cannot—or will not—attest to a violation, a citation cannot be issued.
Despite this, some officers mistakenly believed they had been ordered not to arrest or cite protesters. In reality, Carranza never issued such an order—she was relying on guidance and the information provided by personnel on the ground. The miscommunication at multiple levels contributed to the confusion over enforcement actions during the protest.
Why Was LAPD Unprepared on Sunday?
Another important factor in LAPD’s response was how stretched their resources were due to other major events occurring simultaneously.
According to an LAPD officer familiar with the department’s response:
This lack of preparation was not due to negligence—LAPD had no prior intelligence indicating that a large-scale protest would occur.
Since the protest was not planned or anticipated, LAPD did not have the necessary deployment status activated, leading to officers being overwhelmed when the demonstration took over the freeway.
By Monday, however, LAPD was fully resourced—and this, combined with Carranza’s leadership, is why protesters never made it onto the freeway again.
Carranza’s Leadership Kept Protesters Off the Freeway
While LAPPL has focused its criticism on Carranza, they have not addressed what happened the day before under Commander Alcenda “Al” Neal. On Sunday, protesters stormed onto the freeway, blocking traffic and creating dangerous conditions—resulting in injuries to five officers.
In contrast, on Monday and Tuesday, with LAPD fully staffed and under Carranza’s leadership:
Carranza didn’t wait to see how the situation would escalate. The moment projectiles were thrown at officers, she ordered an immediate dispersal. This was a major reason why protesters were never able to take over the freeway again under her command.
Despite this, LAPPL has not publicly criticized Neal. Instead, they have focused their attention only on Carranza.
What Bill Melugin & Anthony Cabassa Reported
Fox News’ coverage of the incident included reporting from two other journalists, Bill Melugin and Anthony Cabassa.
Both journalists provided factual, on-the-ground coverage that was critical to understanding what happened. However, the larger framing of the story did not delve into key details—especially the miscommunication regarding citation books and the role of officer discretion—that contributed to the delayed arrests.
LAPPL’s Legal Attacks Against Carranza
Carranza’s ongoing legal disputes with LAPPL are another important aspect that received little attention.
LAPPL has been engaged in a legal battle against her, filing lawsuits that have so far been unsuccessful. The union claimed that she improperly accessed internal LAPPL surveys; however, Carranza has denied these allegations, explaining that many commanders, including retirees, still have access to the union’s website for health insurance purposes.
Fox News’ reporting did not fully disclose this ongoing context when relaying LAPPL’s criticisms.
The Real Story That’s Being Ignored
The lack of arrests at the ICE protests was not due to incompetence; it resulted from miscommunication between officers and command, the absence of citation books at a critical moment, and officer discretion regarding enforcement.
Carranza wanted arrests, but she was informed by a lieutenant that, due to the absence of ticket books and the fact that detainees had moved to the sidewalk, officers no longer felt comfortable issuing citations. This led to a delay that ultimately resulted in the protesters being let go with a warning.
Meanwhile, LAPPL has ignored the failures of Commander Neal, whose handling of Sunday’s protests led to officer injuries and a freeway takeover.
Carranza, on the other hand, followed protocol—she kept officers safe and prevented further escalation by issuing an immediate dispersal order as soon as the situation deteriorated.
The public deserves to hear the full story, not just the version that LAPPL wants them to believe.
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