A former FBI intelligence official alleged in a whistleblower complaint that the FBI opened preliminary investigations into anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters in Southern California in early 2025 after pressure from President Donald Trump and other administration officials.
Jill Fields, formerly a supervisory intelligence analyst in the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said the inquiries concerned protest activity near federal buildings and in a residential area. She alleged the actions violated constitutional rights, federal law and FBI policy. Fields submitted the complaint to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders and asked Congress and the Justice Department’s watchdog to investigate, according to NBC News. California Sen. Alex Padilla said his office received a copy. The White House denied the allegations as false, saying the First Amendment does not protect violent rioting.