Incident details
- Date of incident
- March 28, 2026
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Targets
- Steven Berumen (Independent)
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Unknown
Assault
Federal agents outside the Metropolitan Detention Center during a protest in Los Angeles, California, on March 28, 2026. Photographer Steven Berumen was struck by a projectile while documenting the demonstration.
Independent photographer Steven Berumen was struck in the shoulder with a crowd-control munition while documenting a protest against immigration raids in Los Angeles, California, on March 28, 2026.
The protest followed a “No Kings” demonstration held earlier in the day in LA, one of thousands across the U.S. that organizers said drew more than 8 million people against Trump administration policies.
After the main march, people gathered outside downtown LA’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where immigrants are held, and the Roybal Federal Building, locations where many demonstrations have centered since sweeping immigration enforcement began in the city in June 2025.
Berumen told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he was outside the detention center, in front of a fence, when he was hit with the projectile, which he said was fired by a federal officer and left a small bruise on his shoulder.
Although he was wearing a press vest and photographing, Berumun added that he couldn’t tell if he was singled out, due to the limited visibility from the amount of tear gas being deployed, which later caused him to choke.
Later in the day, though, he was targeted by a police officer who shoved his camera in his face.
The March 28 rally resulted in at least 19 press freedom violations that involved both the Department of Homeland Security and the LA Police Department. DHS did not respond to a request for comment. On the night of the protest, the agency wrote on the social platform X that people at the protest were throwing things at officers, two of whom were receiving medical care after being hit. It did not address the use of munitions against members of the press.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
