LA officials condemn ICE arrests that targeted workers at multiple businesses
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted operations at various businesses in Los Angeles on Friday, resulting in protests and clashes outside at least one location. The operations led to the arrest of at least 45 individuals across seven different sites, 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), denounced the actions taken by ICE during an afternoon news conference. Videos captured by bystanders and news crews showed federal agents escorting individuals across a Home Depot parking lot and engaging in clashes with protesters at detention sites.
Aerial footage from KTLA showed federal agents outside a clothing store in the fashion district, escorting individuals out of a building and towards white vans for detention. The individuals were seen with their hands tied behind their backs as agents patted them down before placing them in the vans.
Agents involved in the operations wore vests bearing the insignias of FBI, ICE, and HSI (Homeland Security Investigations). Some videos showed officers using smoke bombs and flash bangs to disperse crowds, allowing them to drive away in various vehicles.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the operations in Los Angeles. HSI spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe stated that the operations were related to search warrants concerning the harboring of individuals in the country illegally.
Local and state officials raised concerns about the federal agencies’ actions. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Jim McDonnell clarified that the LAPD does not engage in civil immigration enforcement and focuses on public safety initiatives. Mayor Karen Bass expressed anger over the actions, stating that they sow terror in communities and disrupt safety principles in the city.
Senator Alex Padilla called the ICE raids a continuation of extreme and cruel immigration enforcement operations nationwide. He criticized the Trump administration for instilling fear in communities and driving immigrants into the shadows. Padilla emphasized the value of immigrants in society and pledged to hold the administration accountable for its actions.
The protests and clashes in Los Angeles highlight the ongoing debate surrounding immigration enforcement and the treatment of immigrants in the United States. The city’s officials and advocates continue to push for the protection and rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status.
