The Trump administration's relentless pursuit of its critics is proving to be a losing game, with federal cases against anti-ICE protesters collapsing in court. In Los Angeles, the prosecution was left red-handed as two high-profile cases were dismissed due to concerns over civil rights violations and the credibility of witnesses.
Bobby Nuñez, a tow-truck driver who blocked an ICE vehicle, was acquitted by a jury after prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence. Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a TikToker who faced assault and property damage charges after confronting ICE agents, had his case dismissed due to concerns over the government's handling of evidence.
"These arrests are a form of retaliation by the government," said Matthew Borden, an attorney representing protesters. "When you have a real judge and a real jury looking at the evidence, it just falls apart." The Trump administration's tactics have sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing them of using intimidation to silence critics.
The Department of Justice is struggling to assert its authority in federal court, with only 6% of cases ending without a conviction. In contrast, 91 percent of cases resulted in guilty pleas, highlighting the difficulties faced by prosecutors in securing convictions against anti-ICE protesters.
"This could have a generational impact on the credibility of law enforcement," warned Christopher Parente, a former federal prosecutor representing Martinez. "They're creating a culture of distrust." As the Trump administration's hardline policies continue to alienate its critics, it remains to be seen how long this losing streak will last.
The Intercept has been at the forefront of covering these cases, providing in-depth reporting on the issues and implications involved. Join us as we work to expand our reporting capacity and provide more coverage on these pressing issues.
Bobby Nuñez, a tow-truck driver who blocked an ICE vehicle, was acquitted by a jury after prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence. Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a TikToker who faced assault and property damage charges after confronting ICE agents, had his case dismissed due to concerns over the government's handling of evidence.
"These arrests are a form of retaliation by the government," said Matthew Borden, an attorney representing protesters. "When you have a real judge and a real jury looking at the evidence, it just falls apart." The Trump administration's tactics have sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing them of using intimidation to silence critics.
The Department of Justice is struggling to assert its authority in federal court, with only 6% of cases ending without a conviction. In contrast, 91 percent of cases resulted in guilty pleas, highlighting the difficulties faced by prosecutors in securing convictions against anti-ICE protesters.
"This could have a generational impact on the credibility of law enforcement," warned Christopher Parente, a former federal prosecutor representing Martinez. "They're creating a culture of distrust." As the Trump administration's hardline policies continue to alienate its critics, it remains to be seen how long this losing streak will last.
The Intercept has been at the forefront of covering these cases, providing in-depth reporting on the issues and implications involved. Join us as we work to expand our reporting capacity and provide more coverage on these pressing issues.
And I love how Matthew Borden is speaking truth to power – it's like, the Trump administration's tactics might be backfiring in a major way. I'm also kinda glad that we have The Intercept holding these cases accountable, keeping us informed about what's really going on behind the scenes. It's all about the people and their voices being heard, you know? 
so it's like they're trying to silence people who speak out against their policies but it's just not working... all those high-profile cases getting dismissed because of civil rights stuff and witness credibility issues? 
that's a pretty clear sign that the government isn't doing things right. And what's up with only 6% of cases ending in convictions? that's super low. it's like they're giving up or something... meanwhile, critics are just gonna keep speaking out and organizing because they know it's about standing up for what's right, not getting intimidated by the government 
, i was following this whole thing with the anti-ICE protesters and it's wild how the gov't is trying to silence them but they're actually getting exposed 
, like 2 high-profile cases got dismissed in LA due to gov't mistakes 
it's like they're playing with fire 
and trying to create a culture of distrust among law enforcement 
but i guess that's not going to work out 
meanwhile, the Dept of Justice is losin big time in court, only 6% of cases end with convictions 
just saw that 2 high-profile cases against anti-ICE protesters got dismissed... like what's next? The whole country is already on edge, can't we just chill for once? 
and it's not just the cases, it's the government's overall approach to dealing with protesters. They're literally making a habit of suppressing dissent. 
I mean, you'd think that if someone's blocking a truck or confronting agents, they'd be in trouble, but not when it's an 'anti-ICE' thing and the prosecution can't get anything solid. It's all about the optics, right? If it looks bad for Trump, suddenly there's an issue with civil rights violations 
...
. I mean, 6% of cases ending without a conviction? That's like, super low 
.
. Matthew Borden was spot on when he said these arrests are just a form of retaliation 
. And now we're seeing the Trump admin getting roasted for their tactics 
. More coverage please! 
I'm so tired of this administration's attempts to silence dissenting voices! The fact that they're struggling to secure convictions against anti-ICE protesters is a clear indication that their tactics are flawed from the start 
. It's not about being soft on crime, it's about respecting people's rights and freedoms 
. These protesters are doing what many of us wish we could do - standing up for what they believe in, even if it means facing potential consequences 
.
? And what's up with these judges and juries being like "oh no, we can't believe this evidence"? 
it's a losing game for them, all these cases collapsing like 6% conviction rate?!? how can they expect to maintain order when they're being sued left and right 
. And 6% conviction rate? That's crazy 
. Either you're doing something right or you're not doing it at all. I'm also curious to know how many more cases are going to get dismissed before the Trump admin realizes they need to change their tactics 
. Can't believe the government is so desperate to prove a point and ignore the rights of their own people. It's like they think they can just bully their way through everything 
. The whole system is starting to look super sketchy 
, and it's time for some serious accountability 