A man from Avondale, Arizona, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly vandalizing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and attempting to set it on fire using a propane tank and torch. Gerardo Mendoza-Acoltzi was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of malicious damage to federal property and willful depredation against property of the United States. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of February 21, 2026, just after 1 a.m., when prosecutors say he broke a window at the ICE property before attempting to ignite the building.
Federal authorities revealed that surveillance footage captured Mendoza-Acoltzi’s actions throughout the night. The video showed him arriving at the facility shortly before midnight, where he unloaded a propane tank near the front entrance. According to prosecutors, he later returned to the location, smashed a lobby window with the propane tank, and used a torch connected to the tank to ignite window shades inside the building. Investigators also alleged that Mendoza-Acoltzi arranged rocks outside the facility to spell an anti-ICE message before leaving the area.
Surveillance video reveals detailed sequence of events
The surveillance footage provided crucial evidence for federal investigators building their case against Mendoza-Acoltzi. The video timeline shows the suspect arriving at the ICE facility before midnight on February 20, 2026. He spent time unloading equipment, including the propane tank that would later be used in the attempted arson. The footage captured him positioning the tank strategically near the front entrance of the building.
After the initial setup, Mendoza-Acoltzi returned to execute the attack. The video clearly shows him using the propane tank as a battering ram to break through a lobby window. Once the window was shattered, he connected a torch to the propane tank and attempted to ignite materials inside the building, specifically targeting window shades. The deliberate nature of the actions, as captured on video, provided federal prosecutors with strong evidence of intent.
Anti-ICE message left at scene before suspect fled
Beyond the physical damage and attempted arson, investigators discovered that Mendoza-Acoltzi took time to leave a message at the scene. He allegedly arranged rocks outside the facility to spell out an anti-ICE statement. This detail suggests the attack was motivated by opposition to immigration enforcement policies. Federal authorities documented this element as part of their investigation, viewing it as evidence of the suspect’s motive.
The message left at the scene adds context to the attack, indicating it was not a random act of vandalism but a targeted incident against the federal immigration enforcement agency. Law enforcement officials have been documenting an increase in threats and attacks against ICE facilities and personnel across the nation. This incident fits into a broader pattern of heightened tensions surrounding border security and deportation operations.
Arrest made months after February incident
Mendoza-Acoltzi was arrested on May 7, 2026, several months after the February 21 incident. Following his arrest, he made his initial appearance in federal court shortly afterward. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is prosecuting the case. The time between the incident and the arrest suggests investigators spent considerable effort gathering evidence and building a solid case before making the arrest.
If convicted on the federal charges, Mendoza-Acoltzi faces substantial prison time. Attempted arson of federal property carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years behind bars. The charge of willful depredation against U.S. property carries additional penalties. The severity of the potential sentences reflects the serious nature of attacking federal facilities and the government’s commitment to prosecuting such crimes to the fullest extent of the law.
Part of broader pattern of attacks on immigration facilities
The Arizona case is not an isolated incident but part of a concerning trend of attacks targeting immigration enforcement facilities nationwide. Federal officials have increasingly warned about threats and attacks aimed at Department of Homeland Security facilities and personnel. The heightened tensions surrounding border security and deportation operations have created an environment where such facilities face greater risk.
Just days before the Arizona incident, state and federal authorities launched an investigation into an attempted arson attack at a DHS office building in Meridian, Idaho. In that case, a suspect allegedly stole an ambulance from a hospital, drove it through a parking lot, and retrieved gas cans that had been staged in nearby vegetation. The suspect then drove the ambulance into the building housing DHS offices. Investigators believe the suspect poured an accelerant inside and around the ambulance but was interrupted by responding officers before igniting it.
- Surveillance video captured Mendoza-Acoltzi arriving before midnight and unloading equipment
- The suspect used a propane tank to break a lobby window at the ICE facility
- A torch connected to the tank was used to attempt igniting window shades inside
- Rocks were arranged outside spelling an anti-ICE message before the suspect fled
- Federal charges include malicious damage to federal property and willful depredation
Law enforcement emphasizes violence of property attacks
Law enforcement officials have pushed back against rhetoric that minimizes the danger of property attacks. In the Idaho incident, Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea addressed comments on social media suggesting property damage is not violence. The chief stated that such claims are absolutely false, emphasizing that the attack was an act of violence. Had the suspect not been interrupted, the building would have been burned, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk.
The statement from law enforcement reflects concern about online rhetoric that may encourage attacks on government facilities by downplaying their severity. Officials emphasize that such attacks endanger lives, including those of first responders who must intervene. The potential for catastrophic loss of life exists when accelerants and fire are involved in attacks on occupied buildings.
The charges against Mendoza-Acoltzi remain allegations at this stage, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The case will proceed through the federal court system, where prosecutors will present their evidence and the defense will have the opportunity to challenge the charges. The outcome will depend on the strength of the evidence, including the surveillance video and other materials gathered by investigators during their months-long investigation.
