Maxine Waters Criticized by Feds for Taunting Guardsmen and Spreading Falsehoods About Riots During Jail Attempt

A senior official with the Department of Homeland Security publicly condemned Rep. Maxine Waters for what were described as "lies" about the nature of the recent Los Angeles riots and her highly visible efforts to enter a federal detention center holding a union leader who was detained during an immigration enforcement operation.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin explained that access to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center had been temporarily restricted to ensure the safety of both detainees and law enforcement after escalating unrest over the weekend. According to DHS, Rep. Waters, an 86-year-old veteran of Congress serving her 18th term, approached guardsmen stationed at a reinforced entrance in an attempt to gain entry. Video footage from the confrontational scene shows Waters announcing, "I’m Congresswoman Waters," only to be rebuffed by a National Guardsman who instructed her to speak to public affairs before firmly closing the door on her.

“As a result, Congresswoman Maxine Waters was denied entry,” McLaughlin confirmed, underscoring that the decision aimed to prioritize security. The spokesperson added, “The safety and security of DHS personnel, ICE agents, and those in our custody remain our top priority.” Waters’ visible frustration continued outside, where she reportedly questioned armed guards on whether they intended to shoot her, a moment that was captured on cameras and quickly circulated online.

McLaughlin went further, criticizing Waters for her rhetoric and actions amid the ongoing civil disturbance. “Instead of taunting national guard members, the congresswoman should be trying to defuse these violent riots,” she said. The spokesperson also called on elected officials to “tone down their dangerous rhetoric about ICE law enforcement.” The confrontation comes after President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of the California National Guard in response to unrest, a move Waters claimed was made without proper notification to Governor Gavin Newsom.

DHS officials were particularly critical of Waters’ televised appearances, in which she characterized the protests as peaceful despite significant evidence to the contrary. “This morning on CNN, the congresswoman spewed lies that these riots have not been violent,” McLaughlin stated. “The American people can see with their own eyes the truth. Rioters have assaulted law enforcement officers, thrown rocks, burned American flags, set cars on fire, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer-funded property.” She called on Waters to explicitly denounce the violence targeting law enforcement in Los Angeles.

Waters later explained that her visit to the detention center was prompted by constituent concerns about SEIU labor leader David Huerta, who was reportedly detained during one of several immigration raids that set off the demonstrations. She expressed disappointment at being denied entry despite wearing a congressional emblem, maintaining that the protests near the facility had been “very small and very peaceful—there was no animosity.” Waters also voiced her apprehension about the use of armed force, directly blaming President Trump for escalating tensions: “Trump has instigated all of this.”

In subsequent statements, Waters accused the president of exploiting vulnerable communities for political gain and criticized his plans for a military parade timed to coincide with the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday and his own. She reiterated her stance that all people "deserve to be treated with dignity and due process under the law," arguing that nonviolent demonstrations are crucial to protecting civil liberties.

The incident remains a flashpoint in the contentious debate over immigration enforcement, the handling of protests, and the role of elected officials during periods of civil unrest. While Waters maintains her confrontational approach is justified in defense of her constituents and democratic rights, federal authorities continue to insist that safety and security must take precedence during volatile episodes.