In a strong sign that the Biden-era crackdown on attacks against federal law enforcement is serious business, the Department of Justice announced that an illegal alien who spat on ICE officers in Los Angeles this past June is facing **up to eight years in federal prison**. The case comes amid a wave of hostile confrontations in sanctuary cities, including Portland, where rioters have been increasingly aggressive toward ICE personnel.
Omar Pulido Bastida, 41, from Los Angeles’ Historic South Central neighborhood, was charged with assaulting a federal officer, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of eight years. Pulido, who was previously charged for being unlawfully present in the U.S. after deportation, was arrested and made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California. A federal magistrate has ordered him detained, with his arraignment set for July 16 in Los Angeles.
“This defendant found out the hard way: When you spit, we hit — with a felony charge,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives and safety to uphold the law. To treat them with the disrespect, like this defendant did, mocks our great nation and such behavior will be punished accordingly.”
The incident in Los Angeles occurred as ICE officers were executing an arrest warrant, attempting to take Pulido into custody. The suspect resisted and spat on federal agents through an iron gate at his residence, demonstrating the escalating hostility faced by federal officers in sanctuary jurisdictions.
Unfortunately, Pulido’s case is not an isolated incident. In Portland, during ongoing October riots outside the city’s ICE facility, a similar attack occurred. On October 5, 38-year-old Alexander Jay Boyce reportedly spat on an ICE officer while being instructed to remain off federal property. Now, Boyce is facing the **same felony assault charge**, with a potential eight-year prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, Scott E. Bradford, issued a stern warning regarding the Portland case: “Nobody spits on the brave men and women of federal law enforcement and gets away with it. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, you will be hit with federal charges.”
The cases highlight a disturbing trend in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles and Portland, where federal agents are increasingly targeted by violent mobs during arrests and enforcement actions. Rioters have gone beyond chanting and yelling to physical assaults, including throwing rocks, spitting, and even attacking officers directly.
Federal authorities have been taking these incidents seriously, emphasizing that assaulting ICE agents is **not a minor misdemeanor** but a **serious federal crime**. The DOJ’s aggressive pursuit of these cases sends a clear message: those who attack federal law enforcement will face the full force of the law.
For conservative Americans watching the left-wing chaos in sanctuary cities, the Pulido and Boyce cases serve as proof that the federal government under the Trump-era-inspired DOJ is willing to **stand up to the lawlessness** perpetuated by radical activists. Spitting on ICE officers is no longer a slap on the wrist — it’s a felony that could mean **years behind bars**.
With sanctuary city leaders often leaving federal agents vulnerable, these prosecutions underscore the importance of enforcing the law and protecting those who uphold it. As U.S. attorneys make clear, disrespecting federal officers in the line of duty is not just an insult — it’s a criminal act that will not be tolerated.
The message to would-be rioters is simple: spit on an ICE officer, and you will face federal prosecution — a policy that is finally restoring accountability in cities long dominated by left-wing lawlessness.
