The raids sparked outrage from Los Angeles officials.
“Federal law enforcement operations are proceeding as planned this weekend in Los Angeles County,” U.S. Atty.
As reports of new raids emerged Saturday morning, federal officials criticized protesters’ actions and warned of further consequences.
“People have a right to peacefully protest, to observe law enforcement activity, and to speak out against injustice.” Assistant Atty.
Rather, it appears to be part of a broader pattern of escalated and theatrical immigration enforcement operations across the country,” the lawmakers stated.
consequences of the aggressive U. S. On Saturday, immigration and customs enforcement sweeps in Los Angeles proceeded despite strong protester opposition, an open altercation between L. 1. leadership, federal representatives, and the Trump administration pledging to deploy the National Guard to the city to support operations.
Fox News was informed by Border Czar Tom Holman that the Guard would be sent in on Saturday night to support operations. The number of Guard members who would show up and their precise function are unknown.
It followed a day marked by clashes between federal agents and demonstrators at a Paramount Home Depot, which were covered widely throughout the day.
Los Angeles officials were outraged by the raids.
I am extremely incensed about what has happened because I am the mayor of a city that is proud to be an immigrant community and they make numerous contributions to our city. These strategies incite fear in our neighborhoods and undermine fundamental safety standards in our city,” Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X on Friday night. “This is unacceptable to us. “.”.
FBI Director Kash Patel responded Saturday morning, “We will.”.
Patel’s reaction was a day after immigration officers stormed local businesses in Los Angeles and took 44 people into custody on suspicion of immigration offenses and one for obstruction. In L, ICE has made 118 arrests. a. in relation to alleged immigration offenses this week, the Department of Homeland Security said.
The Metropolitan Detention Center downtown, which was designed to house only 100 people, is now overcrowded, according to immigration rights advocates.
Food and water were not available to them on a regular basis. Without a doubt, they lack access to their medications,” U stated. A. Rep. Along with fellow representatives Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), Norma Torres (D-Pomona), and Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood), Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) arrived at the facility on Saturday morning to inspect the conditions.
“That’s not good for anyone,” Gomez stated. “They do have a right to ensure that they receive equitable treatment and that they are permitted to see their lawyer. We are present because, according to federal law, it is our duty as members of Congress to visit and conduct a facility check on all of those various matters. “”.
According to the group, a federal agent turned the lawmakers away and instructed them to return on Monday.
Rivas later told reporters, “That is not what the law says.”. We intended to come in to check in on the facility and receive a briefing, and we should be permitted to do so at any time for an oversight visit. “.”.
More arrests are coming, federal officials made clear Saturday as detainees’ families and advocates frantically sought information.
“Las Angeles County federal law enforcement operations are going according to schedule this weekend,” U. S. . Attorney. Says Bill Essayli on X. “Anyone who blocks federal agents will be taken into custody and prosecuted. “”.
Crowds gathered outside the downtown Los Angeles federal detention facility on Friday night. About 200 protesters were still present when the Los Angeles Police Department issued an order for them to disperse at 7 p.m., declaring an unlawful assembly. A.
At 8 p.m., police approved the use of allegedly less-lethal munitions after receiving reports of a small group of “violent individuals” hurling big pieces of concrete at officers. M. The LAPD stated. A tactical alert was then issued for the entire city.
Following the announcement of fresh raids on Saturday morning, federal authorities denounced the protesters’ behavior and threatened more repercussions.
Violence has been incited and hatred stoked by the Left’s perilous rhetoric disparaging courageous American law enforcement. The White House spokesperson, Abigail Johnson, issued a statement saying that Democrats must immediately urge their supporters to halt the attacks on ICE officers who are just carrying out their duties and have every right to do so. “Know that anyone who hurts law enforcement will be held legally responsible to the fullest extent possible. “”.
The demonstrators, according to the Department of Homeland Security, were “violent rioters.”. “.”.
Activists have pledged to keep opposing the arrests.
“Our community has been terrorized and is being attacked,” Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, told the demonstrators. “These mothers, fathers, and workers are here.”. “”.
Federal immigration officials used pepper spray and flash-bang grenades on protesters for the employees’ arrests, turning the scene outside one targeted Fashion District business into a violent one. Service Employees International Union California President David Huerta was hurt and arrested while recording a raid, and hours later, hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Los Angeles Federal Building to denounce the crackdown and call for his release, the labor union said in a statement.
According to Mexico’s consul general in Los Angeles, Carlos González Gutiérrez, his team has identified at least 11 Mexican nationals who were taken into custody during raids throughout the Southland. He stated that he is keeping an eye on the conditions of their detention and that the office is providing them with legal services.
“It looks like the detention facility is completely booked,” he stated. All of the cells appear to be occupied. “.”.
ICE said that federal agents carried out four search warrants at three locations in central Los Angeles that were linked to the alleged harboring of illegal immigrants.
“ChIRLA received over 50 calls on its hotline, including reports of ICE sightings and men in military uniforms in parking lots and in areas close to schools, Home Depot stores, and a doughnut shop,” Salas shared.
The head of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Connie Chung Joe, said she was notified that immigration officers were visiting a Koreantown school.
After receiving hospital treatment, Huerta, 58, was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown L. A. . He was still being held there as of 5:30 p.m. m. as stated by a SEIU representative.
He said in a hospital statement, “What happened to me is not about me; this is about something much bigger.”. This relates to how our community comes together to oppose the injustice that is taking place. Members of our family, community, and hardworking people are being treated like criminals. Since this is not fair, we must all work together to protest this insanity. “”.
Huerta blocked a federal agent’s car Friday morning, preventing them from entering a worksite where they were carrying out a warrant, according to Essayli’s statement on X. Huerta is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday after being detained on suspicion of interfering with federal officers. A. “The lawyer said”.
In a series of statements, elected officials from the city, county, state, and federal levels of government representing Los Angeles denounced Huerta’s arrest, criticized the raids, and denounced the Trump administration’s increase in deportations.
“This is a democracy,” L. stated. A. . Janice Hahn, the county clerk. “People are free to voice their opposition to injustice, observe law enforcement operations, and protest peacefully. “”.
Assistant Attorney. General. President Trump’s pick to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, resisted Democratic elected leaders’ support for Huerta.
“To physically stop law enforcement from carrying out a properly issued warrant is not a right guaranteed by the First Amendment,” Dhillon stated.
Advocates gathered outside Ambiance Apparel’s warehouse on Friday for several hours, yelling legal advice to those being held there. Traffic on the busy road was backed up as they stood atop a long bed truck that was parked in the middle of the road.
“You are not alone,” someone said into a megaphone that muffled the crowd’s noise. Nothing should be signed. Keep your origins a secret. “”.
The 18-year-old Katina Garcia pressed her face against the glass, searching for her father, who, like everyone else, had gone to work there that morning but lacked the necessary paperwork.
She said, “I’m in disbelief. We never thought it would happen to us.”. “.”.
Over 100 people had gathered outside Ambiance Apparel when a horde of federal agents in riot gear arrived to confront them. This happened after a few hours.
When armored personnel carriers arrived, they announced their arrival with sirens.
During the boisterous scene, one man yelled, “Pigs.”.
Yet another said, “Fascists.”.
When the protesters attempted to block the gates, the agents disembarked and surrounded them. As the armed agents shouted and recorded them, some threw objects at them. They used pepper spray to scatter the crowd.
As other agents in riot gear taped off the area, the agents who had been inside the store walked out, boarding at least a dozen people in the vans.
One woman yelled, “How do you sleep at night, tearing apart families?” at an agent. “What if your family was taken?”.
First to depart were the vans carrying migrants. After that, the group of trucks and tactical vehicles retreated and headed in the opposite direction. Following, the throng surrounded the cars for at least a block while using cellphones to record. Before the demonstrators dispersed, the agents must have fired at least a dozen rounds of pepper spray and flash-bang grenades.
eleven L. a. In a joint statement, the city council members denounced the “indiscriminate targeting of children and families” and vowed to defend immigrants.
The group declared, “We categorically condemn this: Los Angeles was built by immigrants, and it thrives because of immigrants.”. “We will not tolerate the use of fear to further radical political agendas that seek to sow division and incite fear in our city. “”.
Law enforcement and the L. a. According to statements, the County Sheriff’s Department will not engage in civil immigration law enforcement or attempt to ascertain an individual’s immigration status.
The department issued a statement saying, “We want our residents to know that when they call for help, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will respond, investigate, and protect everyone — regardless of a person’s legal status.”.
Reports that the LAPD was helping ICE on Friday sparked concerns from the American Civil Liberties Union and elected officials, including Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, and Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. Social media users posted videos of LAPD officers assembling at the intersection of 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue, where a crowd was demonstrating against the immigration action at Ambiance Apparel’s warehouse.
“We ask our local and state leaders: Where are you? What will you do to end this madness?” said Andres Kwon, attorney and senior policy counsel at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. “We see masked goons kidnapping and locking down Angelenos in basements, police using tear gas on protesters and legal observers exercising their First Amendment rights, and union leaders being brutalized for daring to oppose blatant injustice.”.
According to Kwon, city officials “broke their promise” to protect L. a. It was denied by LAPD officials that the city was a sanctuary.
LAPD spokesperson Jennifer Forkish stated, “We responded to separate the parties to maintain order after receiving a call from our federal partners indicating that an officer needed assistance.”. “Even though we were not involved in the operation, we still have a duty to assist any law enforcement agency that asks for immediate assistance. “”.
ICE agents used flash-bang grenades during operations at two restaurants in San Diego, and they also raided an underground nightclub in Los Angeles where Chinese and Taiwanese nationals were arrested. These raids in Los Angeles follow a number of other recent enforcement actions in the Southland.
Friday afternoon, U. A. Sensors. Representatives Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff. San Diego Democrats Scott Peters and Juan Vargas called for an examination of the methods employed in the raids on San Diego.
“This alarming occurrence is not an isolated instance. Instead, it seems to fit into a larger trend of heightened and dramatic immigration enforcement actions nationwide, the lawmakers said. The appropriateness, proportionality, and effectiveness of ICE tactics are seriously called into question by these incidents. “.”.
