Three Activists Charged in Connection with Protest Targeting ICE Agent
Los angeles – Three women have been indicted on federal charges of disclosing the personal data of a federal agent and conspiracy, stemming from a protest targeting an immigration and customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, authorities announced Friday. Ashleigh Brown, Cynthia Raygoza, and Sandra Carmona Samane are accused of following an ICE agent from their downtown Los Angeles office to their home in Baldwin Park and publicly revealing their address.
The case centers around ”ice_out_ofla,” an Instagram page with over 28,000 followers that organizes demonstrations against immigration enforcement.Ashleigh Brown, known as “AK,” is identified as one of the page’s founders. According to the indictment, the three women live-streamed their pursuit of the agent, culminating in a confrontation at the agent’s residence where they allegedly shouted slogans like “la migra lives here” and “ICE lives on your street and you shoudl know.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli issued a strong statement condemning the alleged actions. “Our brave federal agents put their lives on the line every day to keep our nation safe,” he said. “The conduct of these defendants are deeply offensive to law enforcement officers and their families. If you threaten, dox, or harm in any manner one of our agents or employees, you will face prosecution and prison time.”
Samane’s attorney stated she will plead not guilty at her upcoming arraignment next month and declined to comment further. The Federal Public Defender’s Office,representing Brown,has not yet responded to requests for comment. Raygoza is currently unrepresented by counsel, according to court records.
Footage appearing to show Brown’s arrest was posted to the ice_out_ofla Instagram page earlier this week. The video depicts a man in tactical gear executing a warrant, involving a shattered car window and a collapsible baton, before abruptly cutting off. The Instagram page now describes brown as a “political prisoner.”
The U.S. attorney’s office has not yet responded to inquiries regarding whether the agent’s address was specifically shared online or details of how the defendants allegedly incited violence against the agent.
This indictment marks a critically important escalation in the federal response to the “doxing” of ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents, a tactic that has drawn increasing concern as protests against immigration enforcement continue in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously threatened prosecution for publishing agents’ personal information in response to similar activity in Portland. This case appears to be the first federal prosecution directly related to such tactics.
The case arrives amidst ongoing debate surrounding ICE and CBP operations. Critics have voiced outrage over agents operating without clear identification while pursuing undocumented immigrants in Southern California. Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law prohibiting federal law enforcement from wearing masks while operating within the state, a measure whose enforceability is being questioned due to the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.
