Angelica Salas, executive director of The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, known as CHIRLA, said her organization estimated there were at least 45 detentions.
“This morning we received reports of federal immigration enforcement actions in multiple locations in Los Angeles,” the statement read.
“Los Angeles will continue to be a place that values and dignifies every human being, no matter who they are or where they come from.” Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said his department was not involved in the raids.
Mass deportations Since President Donald Trump was elected, immigrant rights groups in Southern California have been on edge.
“Los Angeles immigrant communities and allies have been preparing,” Andres Kwon of the American Civil Liberties Union told LAist in February.
The immigration sweeps that federal agents carried out throughout Los Angeles on Friday incited ire and opposition from bystanders and immigrant rights organizations that have been anticipating such actions for months.
In a statement, a U.S. spokesperson said that approximately 44 people were arrested during the raids. S. KCAL News, a media partner of LAist, obtained information from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Four federal search warrants were executed at three locations in central Los Angeles by ICE officers and agents in conjunction with partner law enforcement agencies,” ICE spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe said in the statement. There were about 44 administrative arrests and one obstruction arrest. The inquiry is still ongoing, and updates will be provided as needed. “,”.
Street fights in downtown L between individuals and what looked like ICE officers. 1. was captured on camera, broadcast on local TV, and circulated on social media.
Officers or agents in uniform were occasionally observed physically relocating individuals who seemed to be obstructing the officers and their cars.
According to reports posted on the social media site X, ICE was spotted in the vicinity of L’s Garment District. A. The Los Angeles Times reported on another video that showed federal agents in a Westlake Home Depot parking lot.
At least 45 detentions were estimated by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, according to Angelica Salas, executive director of the group.
According to union officials, one of them was David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union California. They claimed that Huerta was being treated for injuries sustained while being held.
In a union-issued statement, Huerta stated, “What happened to me is not about me; this is about something much bigger.”. “This is about our community coming together to fight against the injustice that is taking place. Members of our community and family, as well as hardworking individuals, are being treated like criminals. Since this is not fair, we must all work together to protest this insanity. This is an injustice. And we must all support justice. “”.
Along with some city elected officials, a number of immigrant rights leaders and activists attended a sizable rally on Friday night to express their opinions about the federal operations and demand that they end. After that, over 300 people marched in the direction of the federal detention facility for a few blocks.
the response of local authorities.
L. . A. The raids were denounced by Mayor Karen Bass in a statement released Friday afternoon.
The statement said, “We learned this morning that federal immigration enforcement was taking action in several locations throughout Los Angeles.”. “I am furious 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 norms in our city.
“My Office works closely with community organizations that support immigrant rights,” the mayor added. “This will not be tolerated. “.
A joint statement from the City Council’s 15 members echoed some of the Bass’s remarks.
“We categorically denounce this: Los Angeles was founded by immigrants, and it prospers due to immigrants,” the statement said. “We will not tolerate the use of fear to further radical political agendas that seek to sow division and incite fear in our city.
The statement went on to say, “To every immigrant residing in our city: we see you, we stand with you, and we will fight for you.”. “Los Angeles will always be a place that respects and honors all people, regardless of their identities or backgrounds. “”.
According to Jim McDonnell, the chief of police in Los Angeles, his department had nothing to do with the raids.
He declared, “The LAPD will not aid or take part in any kind of mass deportations, nor will the LAPD attempt to ascertain an individual’s immigration status, even though the LAPD will maintain a visible presence in all of our communities to ensure public safety.”.
Photographers documented a number of demonstrators being arrested by police following the sweeps. Speaking to a rally crowd, L. A. In response to earlier claims made by the Trump administration that ICE would concentrate its efforts on dangerous offenders, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez reacted negatively.
“It’s never, ever, ever been the case,” Hernandez stated. “Because when they target one of us, they target us all. And we must keep that in mind. “,”.
The timing of the ICE operations was brought to light by Councilmember Isabel Jurado, who emphasized that the LGBTQ+ community was celebrating Pride Month and families and students were celebrating graduations.
Jurado said, “What kind of government plans this during our most sacred moments of joy?”. It’s evident from the video. This is inhumanity masquerading as policy. “.
Deportations in large numbers.
Southern California’s immigrant rights organizations have been on edge since President Donald Trump was elected. Trump has pledged to “deport” large numbers of undocumented immigrants. Students have walked out of high schools to protest the administration, and protests have shut down freeways.
In February, American Civil Liberties Union representative Andres Kwon told LAist, “Los Angeles immigrant communities and allies have been preparing.”.
The L includes the American Civil Liberties Union. A. The Rapid Response Network is a coalition of legal, faith-based, and immigrant rights organizations that offers a hotline for people to report ICE activity and request assistance following a raid.
Workshops led by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles and other organizations have taught undocumented immigrants how to exercise their constitutional rights and how to be ready for the worst. They have been informing people that they are exempt from disclosing their immigration status and are not required to grant a federal agent entry into their home without a warrant.
To assist people in asserting their rights and defending themselves in the event that they come into contact with federal immigration agents, the Los Angeles Unified School District started handing out “red cards,” also called “Know Your Rights” cards.
The attempt coincided with the Trump administration’s announcement that it would repeal 2011-era policies and permit ICE to make arrests in places of worship and schools.
Prior to L. A. High-profile enforcement actions were carried out by ICE in Boston and Chicago. An ICE raid on a restaurant in the South Park neighborhood of San Diego last week led to several arrests. Crowds of people gathered outside the restaurant during the raid, protesting the operations and filming the officers on their cellphones and encircling their cars.
Detentions under Biden.
Immigration removals in the L by Customs and Border Patrol and ICE. A. were increasing prior to Trump’s election. However, despite a surge of resources, ICE had trouble increasing arrests, according to a Washington Post story earlier this year.
Removals of CBP and ICE in the L. 1. According to ICE data, the Area of Operations—which encompasses a large portion of Southern California—grew by more than 180 percent between the fiscal years 2022 and 2024. Fiscal 2024, which concluded in September, saw the removal of over 3,551 individuals. 30.
The data also showed an increase in detentions.
Over the previous four years, national detentions have stayed relatively stable, but L. A. Detentions in the area rose by 155% between 2022 and 2024, according to 3,857 detentions.
Chris Newman, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network’s general counsel and legal director, stated earlier this year, “I’m not surprised by that.”.
There was growing political pressure on former President Joe Biden to address illegal immigration while he was in office.
Newman claimed that the Biden administration prioritized those with criminal records and recent arrivals.
The years 2023–2024 saw the L. 1. Detentions of individuals without criminal convictions increased significantly in the area, rising 432 percent from 217 to 1,154, and removals of those without convictions increased 547 percent from 223 to 1,443.
