In a dramatic display reminiscent of a Hollywood action film, immigration agents clad in military green descended upon MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Monday, arriving with horses, armored vehicles, and rifles.
This show of force, however, found few of its intended targets: undocumented immigrants.
Rumors of an impending operation circulated in the area starting Sunday, prompting community members to plaster fliers warning that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), also known as la migra, was on its way.
Despite the tense atmosphere, it remains unclear if any arrests were made during the operation.
“We don’t comment on ongoing enforcement operations,” a senior Department of Homeland Security official stated when pressed for details about potential arrests.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the operation as “outrageous and un-American” during an impromptu press conference.
She criticized the heavy presence of federal armed vehicles in the park, emphasizing, “What happened to the criminals, the drug dealers, the violent individuals? Who were in the park today were children. It was their summer camp, their summer day camp.”
MacArthur Park, located in the heart of a densely populated immigrant community, has historically been a refuge for families living in nearby apartments.
Although the area has faced challenges related to drug use, it is also a vibrant hub teeming with street vendors and cultural activity.
City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez described the park as “the Ellis Island of the West Coast,” suggesting that it was targeted for its symbolic representation of resilience, diversity, and the American dream.
She expressed concern over the presence of National Guard troops and reported military weapons, stating, “Please understand that what’s happening here in the city of Los Angeles, we are the canary in the coal mine.
What you see happening in MacArthur Park is coming to you … So wake up.”
This enforcement sweep closely follows President Donald Trump’s signing of a budget bill aimed at significantly increasing immigration enforcement and detention measures nationwide.
Los Angeles, in particular, has become emblematic of Trump’s mass deportation strategy, with over 1,600 arrests reported between June 6 and June 22.
Mayor Bass criticized the chaotic environment created by these operations, stating, “There’s no plan other than fear, chaos and politics.
Home Depot one day, a car wash the next, armed vehicles and what looked like mounted military units in a park the next day.”
The immigration agents arrived at MacArthur Park around 10:30 a.m., after gathering at nearby locations.
As they entered the park, they were met with vocal protest from community members, who shouted phrases like “get the f— out!” and “get out!” including Mayor Bass, who was alerted to the operation.
At one point, Bass was connected via phone to U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino, who has been leading the on-ground enforcement in Los Angeles.
According to live news feeds, Bass could be heard pleading, “You’re getting ready to leave? Can you leave ASAP?” as demonstrators continued to chant in the background.
Afterward, she told the press, “the federal immigration agents needed to leave and they need to leave right now, they need to leave because this is unacceptable.”
Activists had been vigilant for weeks, preparing to deploy legal assistance should the need arise.
Before the operation, fliers in both English and Spanish had circulated, warning of a potential ICE raid on July 7.
Ron Gochez, affiliated with Unión del Barrio, an independent political organization advocating for immigrant rights, spoke about how people at a Home Depot in Westlake spotted the agents heading toward the park.
This information was quickly disseminated on social media, alerting the community.
Gochez described the ICE operation as a “big, perverse publicity stunt,” stating that it seemed designed to showcase force rather than serve any lawful purpose.
As the immediate chaos around Wilshire Boulevard quieted down by 11:30 a.m., several protesters and reporters remained at the scene.
Mikema Nahmir, 28, outlined his experience during the morning when he encountered agents at the park.
After seeing two women running down the street shouting about “la migra,” he joined other protesters in following the military-style vehicles, stating, “L.A. is ours, this is our city.
This is what my morning walk turned into. They’re terrorizing our neighborhood.”
Approximately an hour after the raid began, some visitors returned to the park, but street vendors were largely absent due to the fears instigated by the operation.
Among those affected, Fernando Rodriguez, who owns a shop across from MacArthur Park, expressed sadness over the current situation.
“The nightmare is just beginning,” he lamented, recalling how he quickly closed his storefront in response to the agents’ arrival.
Rodriguez predicted worsening business conditions, stating, “We’re all affected.
People don’t walk around like they used to.”
As a federal lawsuit progresses against Bovino and other immigration officials, it argues that their practices violate constitutional rights, with claims of lacking due process and creating conditions akin to kidnapping.
A coalition of 18 states, including California, has backed this lawsuit, maintaining that unlawful actions have disrupted everyday life in impacted neighborhoods.
In a statement, they argued that the cumulative effects of these actions have detrimental impacts on peace and prosperity, turning once lively communities into “ghost towns.”
Bovino, however, warned on social media that this was not an isolated incident and that agency operations would continue, stating, “We may well go back to MacArthur Park or other places in and around Los Angeles.
Illegal aliens had the opportunity to self-deport; now we’ll help things along a bit.”
image source from：latimes
