Four U.S. citizens were arrested this week after allegedly attempting to sabotage a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle during an immigration enforcement operation outside a Home Depot in Van Nuys, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. The suspects are accused of placing homemade tire spikes designed to disable a federal law enforcement vehicle.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the individuals arrested were Jenaro-Ernesto Ayala, 43; Jude Jasmine Jeannine Allard, 28; Sadot Jarnica, 54; and Daniel Montenegro, 30. All four face felony charges for interfering with federal agents. One of the suspects also reportedly assaulted an agent during the arrest, prompting a review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Photos of the improvised tire spikes were shared by Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino, who stated the devices were meant to obstruct federal operations. A tote bag found at the scene bore the logo of CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, an activist group that has received roughly $34 million in public funding. Additional spikes were found inside the bag.
This act of sabotage came just one day after a major immigration enforcement action at MacArthur Park, where large numbers of federal agents were deployed. The presence of Border Patrol prompted an angry response from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who personally confronted agents and demanded they leave the area.
“They need to leave, and they need to leave right now. This is unacceptable,” Bass said, reportedly calling Agent Bovino directly.
In response, Bovino rejected the mayor’s demands: “I don’t work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now… We’ll leave when the operation is over.”
Federal officials have stated that the mission will continue as long as necessary to address illegal immigration in Los Angeles.
