DHS Attorney Suggested Agents Should Have 'Started Hitting' LA Protesters

Internal emails reveal a top Homeland Security lawyer encouraged agents to use force against demonstrators during anti-ICE protests.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 10:00am

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Internal emails obtained by a government watchdog group show that a top attorney for the Department of Homeland Security suggested federal agents should have 'just started hitting the rioters and arresting everyone that couldn't get away' during an anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles last June. The comments were made by Joseph Mazzara, then-acting DHS general counsel, in an email chain discussing a lawsuit filed by California's governor over the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to the city.

Why it matters

The emails reveal a concerning level of hostility toward protesters from a senior DHS lawyer, raising questions about the department's approach to managing demonstrations and protecting civil liberties. Mazzara's comments also suggest a disregard for the potential harm that could be inflicted on both protesters and law enforcement officers.

The details

In the email, Mazzara appears to be referring to an incident where protesters tried to breach a protective line at a federal building. He wrote: 'They should have, when they brought the line in, just started hitting the rioters and arresting everyone that couldn't get away from them. No one likes being hit by a stick, and people tend to run when that starts happening in earnest.' The 'battering ram incident' he referenced involved protesters using large dumpsters to try to breach a federal building's parking garage.

  • The emails were sent on June 11, 2026, in the aftermath of protests against ICE that took place in Los Angeles on June 9, 2026.

The players

Joseph Mazzara

Then-acting general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, who later was appointed deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California, who filed a lawsuit over the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles.

Kristi Noem

The former Homeland Security Secretary who was fired and given a new role as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, taking 10 staffers including Mazzara with her to the State Department.

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What they’re saying

“They should have, when they brought the line in, just started hitting the rioters and arresting everyone that couldn't get away from them. No one likes being hit by a stick, and people tend to run when that starts happening in earnest.”

— Joseph Mazzara, Then-acting general counsel, Department of Homeland Security

“They reveal a level of hostility toward protesters that is deeply at odds with the government's obligation to protect civil liberties — and there's no FOIA exemption that justifies hiding them.”

— Chioma Chukwu, Executive director, American Oversight

“He's doing a disservice to the people that are on the front line, that rely on him and his colleagues to give them the parameters of what they can and can't do. If you give them bad legal advice, you are setting them up for liability.”

— Kerry Doyle, Former top ICE attorney during the Biden administration

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment on Mazzara's email. It remains to be seen if there will be any further investigation or consequences for his remarks encouraging the use of force against protesters.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability within the Department of Homeland Security, particularly when it comes to protecting the civil liberties of protesters. The comments from a senior DHS attorney suggest a troubling disregard for the rights of demonstrators and the potential for harm against both the public and law enforcement officers.