Reporter pushed by police while covering LA immigration protest

Status Coup reporter Tina-Desiree Berg was pushed back by police and later shoved by an officer while documenting a protest against immigration raids in Los Angeles, California, on April 11, 2026.

The protest, which included a few dozen participants, gathered at the downtown Metropolitan Detention Center, where immigrants are being held and where numerous demonstrations have taken place since the start of intensified immigration enforcement in the city in June 2025.

Berg told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that an LA Police Department captain directed members of the media to document from the sidewalk, which they did.

“I had my back to the police line, and the next thing I know, we were just being bombarded,” she said. “A group of cops just all ran forward into us.”

Berg, who was clearly identified as press, said she confronted officers for assaulting the media after they had complied with orders to document from the sidewalk. As she was talking to one media relations lieutenant, he told her, “That’s it, I’m done,” before shoving her through the police line.

“I’ve never had a media relations person behave like that,” Berg told the Tracker. “It’s just so offensive.”

In a video posted by journalist Sean Beckner-Carmitchel on Bluesky, officers positioned themselves in front of the media and aggressively advanced on them, using their batons and yelling for them to back up and leave the area. One journalist was kicked.

“You have been advised to leave, all the members of press. You are subject to arrest — all of you. Now,” an officer told them, adding, “You cannot get in the way of arrests.”

“We’re not,” one journalist said.

“You’re coming over here when we’re making arrests,” the officer replied.

California law allows members of the press to cover protests and exempts them from dispersal orders. It also protects them from arrest or interference by police while doing so. A federal preliminary injunction against the city is in place to uphold those protections.

While the statute states press may access closed areas during emergencies, it does not extend that access to designated crime scenes or secured perimeters established by law enforcement. In another video, posted by journalist Mel Buer, an officer invoked that portion of the law, telling the media the area had been declared an emergency operation and they were subject to arrest.

“Here’s the thing that upsets me: It’s never consistent,” Berg said. “Sometimes you have situations on the same day where police handle things appropriately, know what the law says, and then you’ll have the opposite happen in the course of the same protest.”

In an emailed statement, an LAPD public information officer told the Tracker that an unlawful assembly was declared in response to “vandalism and in the interest of public safety.” The officer added, “Following the lawful dispersal order, officers moved to regain control of the area and successfully dispersed those engaged in unlawful activity.”

The officer said the department is “aware of the complaints that have been raised,” adding that “each allegation will be subject to a comprehensive and thorough investigation in accordance with established Department policies and procedures.”

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement after a March 28 “No Kings” rally weeks earlier — which resulted in at least a dozen press freedom violations — that any use of force or allegations of mistreatment involving media members would be investigated and addressed.

“The LAPD recognizes the media’s right to cover events and makes reasonable efforts to accommodate, with those efforts consistent with our primary duty to maintain public safety and order,” the statement said.