The Department of Justice, under President Donald Trump, has issued a stern warning: the chaos unleashed during the anti-ICE riots may soon be prosecuted as domestic terrorism. According to Fox News Digital, federal authorities are now exploring the toughest possible charges against agitators who turned peaceful protests into battle zones, particularly in Los Angeles.

Retired FBI Special Agent Jason Pack told Fox News that the DOJ could pursue terrorism-related cases if rioters intended to “intimidate the public or influence government decisions through force.” While no federal statute uses the label “domestic terrorism” as a standalone crime, it is routinely invoked to trigger harsher penalties for ideologically driven violence.

A Justice Department spokesperson emphasized the administration’s aggressive posture: “Nothing is off the table. We are following the evidence to seek the strongest sentences permissible by law against these domestic terrorists.”

The anti-ICE protests began in response to Trump’s stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws, but have devolved into organized violence. Rioters lit Molotov cocktails, launched fireworks at police, and destroyed property—all while flying foreign flags and filming confrontations for social media virality. According to law enforcement officials, hundreds have been arrested in Los Angeles alone, and the threat level remains high.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) is leading a legislative charge to make sure violent rioters face “stiff consequences.” He introduced new bills that would increase penalties for assaulting ICE agents and engaging in political violence. “My bill makes clear that Americans will not tolerate lawless rioting,” he said.

Pack explained that most charges will likely fall under arson, assault on federal officers, destruction of government property, and conspiracy—but the term “domestic terrorism” could dramatically escalate prosecution and sentencing.

“This label is not about peaceful protesters,” Pack clarified. “It’s for individuals committing violent crimes for political ends—like setting fires, attacking police, or storming courthouses.”

Pack went further, describing how federal analysts believe a core group of roughly 60 organized anarchists are behind the worst violence. “They plan in encrypted chats. They blend in with crowds, hit key targets like courthouses and bridges, then disappear,” he said. “These people are trained, ideological, and on a mission to hijack public anger for their agenda.”

Law enforcement sources said the tactics mirror those used during the George Floyd and Antifa riots in 2020—only now, they’re more sophisticated. Protesters show up in black, conceal identities, exploit media optics, and bait police into aggressive responses to stoke outrage online.

Even officials in left-leaning California are on high alert. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman appeared on Fox Business to warn rioters: “We’re coming after those criminals… They’ll be brought to justice.”

Senator Cotton agreed, saying it’s not the federal response that’s “provocative,” but the violent actions of illegal immigrants and professional agitators. “What’s provocative is setting cars on fire and waving foreign flags while assaulting law enforcement,” he told Fox News.

The FBI is also reportedly examining potential coordination across states. Some suspects are believed to have received funding or logistical support from radical organizations. Investigators are tracking encrypted communications and financial trails.

President Trump, who recently deployed 700 Marines to support law enforcement in L.A., is making it clear that the gloves are off. “President Trump will always support and defend the brave law enforcement officers who are being attacked by violent left-wing rioters,” said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson.

While Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders have gone quiet amid the violence, administration officials say the response from the DOJ will be decisive.

As Pack put it: “This isn’t about slogans or speeches anymore. It’s about stopping radicalized domestic extremists before more cities burn.”