Incident details
- Date of incident
- June 7, 2025
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Targets
- Victor Cordero (KMEX-DT)
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
News reporter Victor Cordero of KMEX-DT, in foreground, runs from federal police as they deploy crowd-control munitions during an immigration protest in downtown Los Angeles, California, on June 7, 2025.
Victor Cordero, a news reporter for KMEX-DT, Univision’s Los Angeles affiliate, was targeted with crowd-control munitions fired by federal officers while he was covering a protest in downtown Los Angeles, California, on June 7, 2025.
The protest was one of several that began June 6 in response to federal raids in and around LA of workplaces and areas where immigrant day laborers gathered, amid the Trump administration’s larger immigration crackdown.
After demonstrators clashed with LA law enforcement officers and federal agents, President Donald Trump called in the California National Guard and then the U.S. Marines over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass.
In a video posted to the social platform Bluesky by L.A. Taco journalist Lexis-Olivier Ray, Cordero is seen retreating with his equipment as officers advance. Ray said that federal police began firing pepper balls at members of the press as they tried to move to safety. Cordero, who was clearly wearing a press badge, was among those targeted.
The Los Angeles Press Club identified Cordero as one of two KMEX journalists in the clip. The other was video journalist Raúl Gutiérrez, who was also targeted. Cordero did not respond to a request for comment.
Daniel Coronell, president of Univision News, told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker in a statement that its employees continued to do their job amid the tense environment and are doing well.
“We condemn any type of aggression against those who fulfill their duty to inform citizens,” Coronell added. “The authorities must protect journalistic work and guarantee access and safety in places of newsworthy locations.”
It’s unclear which federal agency was deploying the crowd-control munitions.
In a statement emailed to the Tracker, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin urged journalists to be cautious while covering what she characterized as “violent riots,” and added, “President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem are committed to restoring law and order.”
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
