Ben Camacho, a journalist for The Southlander, was shot twice by LA County Sheriff's Department deputies while reporting on an anti-ICE protest in Paramount, despite visibly wearing a press pass. He sustained injuries to his elbow and knee from what appeared to be less-lethal munitions, fired without warning amid a broader crackdown in which other journalists were hit with tear gas and pepper balls. The Southlander, along with fellow reporter Abraham Márquez, the LA Press Club and Status Coup, has since filed a federal lawsuit against LASD and Sheriff Robert Luna, alleging violations of First Amendment rights and state laws protecting press access during protests. The suit seeks an injunction barring the department from further targeting journalists covering demonstrations.