Three Women Indicted for “Doxing” ICE Agent in Los Angeles
Three women, opposed to President Trump’s immigration raids in Los Angeles, have been indicted on charges of illegally “doxing” a U.S. Customs and Immigration agent. Ashleigh Brown, Cynthia Raygoza, and Sandra Carmona Samane face charges of disclosing the personal information of a federal agent and conspiracy, according to an indictment unsealed late Friday.
The indictment alleges that the three women followed an ICE agent from the federal building in downtown L.A. to the agent’s residence in Baldwin Park, live-streaming the entire event. Once they arrived at the agent’s home, prosecutors claim the women got out and shouted “la migra lives here” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know.” This incident has sparked a heated debate about the balance between free speech and the protection of law enforcement officers’ personal information.
Background and Context
Brown, who is from Colorado and goes by the nickname “AK,” is described as one of the founders of the Instagram page “ice_out_ofla,” which has over 28,000 followers and plays a role in organizing demonstrations against immigration enforcement. The page has been a platform for critics of the Trump administration’s immigration policies to express their opinions and organize protests.
Acting U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli stated that “our brave federal agents put their lives on the line every day to keep our nation safe” and that “the conduct of these defendants is deeply offensive to law enforcement officers and their families.” He emphasized that those who threaten, dox, or harm law enforcement officers or employees will face prosecution and prison time.
Legal Implications and Reactions
An attorney for Samane, 25, of Los Angeles, said she intends to plead not guilty at an arraignment next month and declined further comment. The Federal Public Defender’s Office, which is representing Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colo., did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Court records did not list an attorney for Raygoza, 37, of Riverside.
Federal law enforcement leaders have expressed concern about the “doxing” of agents with ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, as residents of Los Angeles, Chicago, and other cities continue to protest the Trump administration’s deportation efforts. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threatened to prosecute people for publishing agents’ personal information last month in response to fliers in Portland that called for people to collect intel on ICE.
Critics of the Trump administration’s operations have expressed outrage over ICE and CBP agents wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves in public while hunting undocumented immigrants throughout Southern California. Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that forbids federal law enforcement from wearing masks while operating in California, although the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates that federal law takes precedence over state law.
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