President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified its response to the escalating anti-ICE unrest in Los Angeles, now stretching into its sixth straight day, as federal authorities announce arrests connected to the organization and support of the violent demonstrations.

On Monday, FOX LA broadcast live footage that appeared to show a truck unloading and handing out large quantities of sophisticated protective equipment—specifically Uvex Bionic Face Shields—to protesters involved in repeated clashes with law enforcement. These professional-grade shields, normally used in industrial and autobody settings to protect against chemical exposure and flying debris, have been adopted by rioters to thwart police efforts to disperse crowds with gas and other non-lethal measures.

Reporter Elex Michaelson identified the gear on air, noting that the distributors were providing high-cost, specialized protection to individuals participating in acts of civil disorder. With this level of equipment in circulation, officials say it has become significantly harder for police to restore order or create safe avenues for de-escalation.

Independent journalist Andy Ngo added another layer to the story, reporting that far-left activists had established an online crowdfunding campaign to purchase riot gear, which he suggested was intended specifically to aid pro-open-border agitators involved in the L.A. disturbances.

Federal prosecutors now say that at least one arrest has been made as part of a broader push to disrupt the organization behind the unrest. Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, announced that the FBI’s Los Angeles field office had taken Alejandro Theodoro Orellana into custody. Orellana has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorder under 18 U.S.C. § 371, with investigators alleging he helped coordinate the distribution of protective shields to individuals engaged in violent activity.

According to information cited by RANN, Orellana is believed to be affiliated with the Brown Berets, described as a radical Latino paramilitary organization that maintains a presence in multiple U.S. cities. Federal officials allege that his involvement reflects a larger pattern of organized support networks fueling the ongoing riots.

Joshua Steinman, who previously served on the National Security Council during Trump’s first term as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Cyber, told the Daily Caller that Orellana represents the kind of security threat he believes increased during the Biden administration—foreign or foreign-aligned operatives who, in his view, entered the country with insufficient scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Trump publicly thanked a federal appeals court for allowing him to continue using the California National Guard to stabilize the situation in Los Angeles. Posting on Truth Social, he wrote: “The Appeals Court ruled last night that I can use the National Guard to keep our cities, in this case Los Angeles, safe. If I didn’t send the Military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now. We saved L.A. Thank you for the Decision!!!”

The decision came from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which granted the administration’s request to temporarily block an earlier ruling by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer. According to the Washington Post, Breyer had ruled that Trump exceeded his constitutional authority when he federalized elements of the California National Guard to assist in protecting federal property and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel during the riots.

Breyer argued that Trump’s move violated the 10th Amendment and exceeded the statutory limits placed on federal command of state military resources. His ruling ordered that control of the Guard be returned to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has openly resisted many of the administration’s immigration enforcement initiatives.

California’s lawsuit against Trump—alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense—sought to restrict the Guard and any Marine units in Los Angeles to the protection of federal facilities only, preventing them from engaging in other security operations. State officials argued that the administration’s deployment strategy encroached upon California’s sovereignty and could set a precedent for federal overreach.

But the appeals court’s stay allows Trump’s deployment authority to remain in effect while the legal battle continues, effectively greenlighting the administration’s security strategy for the time being.

As the situation continues to evolve, federal prosecutors, the FBI, and the National Guard remain active in Los Angeles. With additional arrests expected, and legal challenges still unfolding, the conflict over control, authority, and public safety shows no signs of cooling.