As anti-ICE riots erupted across Los Angeles, federal agents quietly moved in on a dangerous suspect. On Wednesday, in Baldwin Park, California, federal officers arrested Arturo Terron-Quevedo, an illegal Mexican national wanted for rape and other violent offenses.
In an exclusive video shared with Fox News, Terron-Quevedo is seen being handcuffed near what appears to be the City Hall building in Baldwin Park.
According to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson, Terron-Quevedo faces pending charges for rape, assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury, and inflicting corporal injury.
A senior ICE official told Fox News that an ICE Los Angeles officer, working alongside an IRS criminal investigator, made the arrest shortly after Terron-Quevedo was released from local custody.
The arrest comes at a politically charged moment. Just hours earlier, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and 30 city officials held a press conference accusing ICE agents of unfairly targeting illegal immigrants without criminal records—a claim undermined by the charges against Terron-Quevedo.
Meanwhile, officials in Baldwin Park emphasized their ongoing support for the immigrant community, regardless of legal status.
“As Mayor, I speak and advocate for all members of our community, including our undocumented immigrant residents,” Baldwin Park Mayor Alejandra Avila stated on Sunday. “The City firmly supports your membership in our community. I recognize that for many this is a scary time, and I hope you know that the City of Baldwin Park and Baldwin Park Police Department support the wellbeing of all our residents.”
Following the arrest, Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez issued a statement to clarify the department’s position, stressing that local officers do not participate in civil immigration enforcement.
“Our Baldwin Park police officers are not involved with immigration enforcement activities, and in no way are we participating in their federal actions,” Chief Lopez wrote. “The men and women of Baldwin Park Police Department are committed to ensuring that our city continues to be a place where people feel respected, supported, and safe.”
Chief Lopez also urged residents to remain peaceful during the protests, stating: “We ask citizens not to assault law enforcement, commit vandalism, or otherwise engage in illegal behavior against any law enforcement.”
The arrest took place amid escalating protests and violent confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement in downtown Los Angeles. Tensions have been high, with federal officials slamming some Democratic leaders for rhetoric they describe as dangerous, especially as ICE agents face violent mobs in both LA and New York City.
The agency, however, has signaled it will continue its efforts to target convicted criminals, despite opposition from local officials and activists.
“You will not stop us,” an ICE official told Fox News. “Our mission is clear, and public safety is not negotiable.”
For now, Arturo Terron-Quevedo remains in federal custody, as ICE ramps up enforcement actions amid the turbulent political climate in California.