FBI agents stormed a Los Angeles family home, arresting a Marine veteran and union activist accused of supplying face shields to anti-ICE rioters. The father of the accused expressed disappointment in his son's actions while describing the extensive damage to their property during the raid.
According to the New York Post, Alejandro "Alex" Orellana was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit civil disorders after allegedly distributing protective equipment to protesters. US Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli announced the charges following the arrest.
Francisco Orellana, Alex's father, told reporters his reaction upon seeing images of his son driving a truck loaded with supplies for protesters was blunt: "What the f–k are you doing?" The elder Orellana, who immigrated to the US in the 1970s, maintained his son wasn't a criminal but questioned his judgment in supporting the demonstrations.
The FBI operation left significant damage to the Orellana family residence, according to Francisco. Agents broke down the front door, damaged interior walls, and even broke a window on Francisco's truck during the early morning raid.
"They broke down my door, broke the window of my truck, they broke my wall. … I woke up, and I heard 'boom boom boom' on the door," Francisco recounted. The entire family, including Francisco's wife and another adult son, were handcuffed and detained for approximately an hour while agents searched the property.
Federal agents confiscated all electronic devices belonging to family members, including phones and laptops. Francisco expressed frustration about the property damage, asking, "Who's going to pay for my house? Who's going to fix these things?"
Alex Orellana, described as a UPS worker and Teamsters Union shop steward, has a history of involvement in social justice causes. His activism includes work with Centro CSO, an organization known for training labor leader Cesar Chavez, according to social media posts reviewed by reporters.
Images from the scene of the riots showed protesters rushing to a truck allegedly driven by Alex to grab "Bionic Shield" transparent masks. These protective items are typically used at construction sites to shield workers from debris and chemical splashes but were repurposed during the demonstrations.
Just days before his arrest, Alex had written enthusiastically for the socialist news site Fight Back! about protesters forcing federal agents to leave the Boyle Heights neighborhood. Video evidence also shows him delivering a May Day speech last year dressed in combat boots and camouflage pants, highlighting his established presence in activist circles.
Despite his son's involvement in anti-ICE protests, Francisco Orellana expressed views critical of certain aspects of immigration policy. He made clear distinctions between immigrants who work and those he perceives as taking advantage of social services.
"It's too many people not working. Who's paying for them? You and me, and everybody working. We're paying to keep those people here," he said. Francisco shared an anecdote about confronting a neighbor with seven children who receive government assistance, telling her, "I am the government. They're taking that money from my check."
The elder Orellana also criticized California's political leadership, stating bluntly that "California is no good. Democratic people left the state really, really bad." His comments reflect a complex perspective on immigration despite his own immigrant background.
The raid on the Orellana home highlights the increasingly tense atmosphere surrounding immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles. Alex's arrest comes amid widespread protests against ICE operations that have led to property damage and confrontations with law enforcement.
Francisco maintained that his son might have become involved innocently, suggesting Alex could have been in the truck because "someone asked him for a favor." However, he still questioned the wisdom of supporting protesters who engaged in destructive behavior, saying, "It's illegal to [help] people fighting with the police, people fighting with immigration."
The case represents a family caught between political ideologies, with a father who immigrated legally decades ago now watching his son face serious federal charges for allegedly aiding protesters opposed to immigration enforcement. As Alex awaits his legal proceedings, the damage to both family property and relationships reveals the personal toll of the ongoing political conflict.
