HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

Local reporter struck by tear gas and nonlethal munitions covering ICE raid protests

Jun 7, 2025·Location: Paramount, CA

Local reporter struck by tear gas and nonlethal munitions covering ICE raid protests
Photo via thedissenter.org

A reporter for LA Daily News and Southern California News Group was struck by law enforcement while covering ICE raid protests in Los Angeles County over two consecutive days in June 2025. On June 6, she was shot with a pepper ball bullet in her left thigh by Homeland Security Investigations agents while reporting on ICE operations. The following day in Paramount, she was struck just above her right ear with a rubber bullet by the same agency's agents and exposed to tear gas during a law enforcement dispersal of protesters. She has asthma and experienced difficulty breathing during the incidents, was diagnosed with a concussion, and later reported ongoing symptoms including brain fog, headaches, vomiting, and heightened anxiety. She sought emergency medical care for her injuries and became a plaintiff in a lawsuit that won a preliminary injunction in California's Central District barring ICE and CBP from brutalizing protesters, legal observers, and members of the press.

Timeline

Jun 7, 2025—Mena struck in head with rubber bullet and exposed to tear gas during law enforcement dispersal of protesters in Paramount; sought emergency medical care
Jun 6, 2025—Ryanne Mena shot with pepper ball bullet in left thigh while covering ICE raids in Los Angeles County
2025-2026—Mena experienced ongoing symptoms including brain fog, headaches, vomiting, and heightened anxiety; became plaintiff in lawsuit against ICE and CBP
Suggest a correction, comment, or update

Sources

More incidents in California