Immigration enforcement operations were conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at various businesses in Los Angeles on Friday, leading to protests and clashes at least one location. Authorities resorted to using flash bangs to disperse the crowds. According to the Associated Press, immigration advocates reported that 45 individuals were arrested at seven different locations, including two Home Depot stores, a fashion district store, and a doughnut shop. Angelica Salas, the executive director of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), spoke out against these actions during a news conference.
Videos taken by bystanders and news crews showed federal agents escorting individuals across a Home Depot parking lot and encountering clashes with protesters at detention sites. Aerial footage from KTLA captured agents outside a clothing store in the fashion district leading individuals to white vans with their hands tied behind their backs. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to inquiries about the operations.
During the operations, federal agents wore vests bearing the logos of FBI, ICE, and HSI. Smoke bombs and flash bangs were used to disperse the crowds so that the authorities could depart in various vehicles. The search warrants executed by federal agents were related to harboring individuals illegally in the country, as stated by HSI spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe.
Local and state officials expressed concerns about the actions taken by federal agencies, with protesters gathering to denounce ICE’s enforcement tactics. Despite the presence of police, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) clarified that they were not involved in civil immigration enforcement activities. The situation drew attention and criticism from various parties, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the city.
“The chief stated in a message on X that the Department is not engaged in civil immigration enforcement. While maintaining a visible presence in all communities to uphold public safety, the LAPD will not partake in mass deportations or inquire about an individual’s immigration status. Police officers have been prohibited from initiating law enforcement actions solely to ascertain immigration status since 1979. The LAPD remains committed to enhancing the quality of life for all residents, irrespective of their immigration status.
The largest LAPD union criticized anti-Trump protest directives, emphasizing that arrests should be straightforward in altercations.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed deep frustration with the federal agencies’ actions in LA on Friday, stating that such tactics instill fear and disrupt safety in the city. She vowed to stand against these actions and fight for all Angelenos, emphasizing the city’s immigrant population’s significant contributions.
Senator Alex Padilla denounced the ICE raids in Los Angeles as part of a concerning trend of harsh immigration enforcement nationwide. He criticized the administration’s tactics, emphasizing that immigrants are integral members of society and pledging to hold those responsible for the actions accountable.
Source: ICE activity in Los Angeles prompts backlash from local Democrats over Trump administration’s enforcement measures”
