A immigration checkpoint went wrong in Los Angeles on Tuesday. A federal agent was injured by a stray bullet and an illegal immigrant was shot in the arm. An investigation has been opened.

Immigration enforcement escalated Tuesday morning in South Los Angeles when a U.S. Marshals Service agent was injured by a stray bullet fired by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The operation targeted a man wanted for illegal entry and evading police custody, according to reports in the Los Angeles Times.

Shortly before 9 a.m., several federal agents surrounded a vehicle in the East 20th Street area, near the Santee Education Complex. The suspect, described by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an illegal alien, reportedly attempted to evade arrest once again. According to the DHS statement cited by the Los Angeles Times, the man allegedly rammed the police vehicle in an attempt to flee.

DHS denounces 'sanctuary' policies

The officers then opened fire "to protect public safety and the safety of police officers." The driver was wounded in the arm, while a ricochet bullet hit a marshal in the hand. Both men were hospitalized; their lives are not believed to be in danger.

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denounced "the climate created by certain political leaders and activists" who she said were inciting migrants to resist law enforcement. She said this type of incident illustrated the "direct consequences" of these calls for disobedience.

High tensions on the ground

The intervention angered several residents. Behind yellow police tape, dozens of residents watched the scene, still unsure of what had happened. Some expressed outrage at the LAPD's involvement in federal immigration operations. The "boxing" technique, which involves surrounding a vehicle with police cars to prevent escape, is common in Southern California. But it has drawn growing criticism following several similar incidents.

The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that its injured officer was assisting ICE with an arrest related to illegal entry. It said the officer was in stable condition. The incident is now the subject of a joint investigation by the FBI, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Homeland Security Investigations Branch.