On Friday morning, Los Angeles saw a series of coordinated immigration raids carried out by multiple federal agencies, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The operations, described as military-style enforcement actions, have raised significant concerns regarding the use of force by federal immigration officials and the rights of undocumented individuals.
Federal agents targeted individuals suspected of immigration violations and fraudulent document use during these enforcement operations.
Legal observers and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) confirmed that the arrests were executed without judicial warrants.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which did not participate in the raids, was called in later to manage protests that erupted in response to the operation.
This series of raids aligns with a broader initiative under President Donald Trump’s more stringent immigration policies.
The raids primarily occurred in several neighborhoods in downtown Los Angeles and its immediate vicinity, specifically areas known for their significant migrant populations and labor-intensive industries.
Advocates from the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) reported enforcement activity at seven sites, including notable locations such as two Home Depot stores in the Westlake District, a doughnut shop, and the clothing wholesaler Ambiance Apparel in downtown’s Fashion District.
Additional sites affected included day labor centers and another Ambiance facility located near 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue in south Los Angeles.
In total, ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) confirmed the administrative arrest of 44 individuals for immigration-related offenses.
Unlike a criminal arrest, an administrative arrest pertains to civil immigration violations like overstaying a visa or lacking legal status.
These arrests may lead to detention, deportation, temporary re-entry bans, and the denial of future immigration requests.
However, community advocates like Caleb Soto from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network believe the actual number of arrests is higher, estimating between 70 and 80 individuals may have been detained.
Soto expressed concerns about access to legal representation, noting that only three lawyers have had the opportunity to provide legal advice to those taken into custody.
Soto also described the process as resembling kidnapping, as officials, wearing masks, allegedly did not present warrants or documentation during the arrests.
In addition to those arrested, David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, was apprehended for allegedly obstructing federal agents during the course of the raids.
Reports indicate Huerta was injured during his arrest and required medical treatment at Los Angeles General Medical Center before being taken into custody.
Experts highlighted that the nature of these raids, distinguished by their military-style execution, was alarming.
Witnesses, legal observers, and advocacy groups reported that federal agents arrived heavily armed, donned in tactical gear, with some wearing camouflage and carrying rifles.
Responding agents utilized unmarked black SUVs and armored vehicles, sealing off streets around targeted locations, and in some cases employing drones for surveillance, akin to tactics used in high-threat counterterrorism operations.
The ACLU condemned the execution of the raids as an “oppressive and vile paramilitary operation,” asserting that the aggressive tactics employed fostered panic within local communities and potentially violated established protocols for civil immigration enforcement.
Protests erupted shortly after news of the raids spread through social media and immigrant advocacy networks, drawing hundreds of demonstrators to the Edward R Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, where detainees were being processed.
Protesters occupied entrances and exits to the facility, chanting slogans and demanding the release of those arrested.
Some members of the crowd vandalized the exterior walls of the building with anti-ICE messages, while others attempted to physically block ICE vehicles, resulting in confrontations with law enforcement.
In response, LAPD officers issued dispersal orders, warning protesters they could be arrested if they did not vacate the area.
To enforce the order, officers, clad in riot gear, deployed tear gas, pepper spray, and “less-lethal munitions,” including rubber bullets, to disperse the crowd.
A tactical alert was subsequently issued citywide, requiring all LAPD officers to remain on duty to manage the escalating situation.
The LAPD later declared the protests to be an “unlawful assembly” around 7 PM on Friday, indicating that individuals who failed to leave the area risked arrest.
The declaration remained effective until the crowd finally dispersed later that evening without a formally announced end time.
Reports from US media outlets and rights groups indicated that hundreds of detainees, including children, spent the night in a basement within the federal building, lacking access to essential amenities such as beds, blankets, and adequate food and water.
An ICE spokesperson responded to allegations made by immigration activists, emphasizing that the agency takes its responsibility for detainees seriously and categorically disputed claims regarding their treatment.
The current status of all individuals detained during these raids remains uncertain, with some reported to have been released while others are still held, and conditions regarding their location and treatment remain undisclosed.
Local and state officials expressed their outrage over the raids and the methods employed.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the operations, arguing that they instill fear in communities and undermine fundamental safety principles in the city.
California Governor Gavin Newsom referred to the raids as “cruel” and “chaotic,” suggesting that they serve merely to fulfill arbitrary arrest quotas.
All 15 members of the Los Angeles City Council issued a collective statement denouncing the raids as well.
However, Trump administration officials defended the actions taken and criticized local leaders for their opposition.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller suggested that Mayor Bass was undermining federal law with her statements and actions against the operations.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/7/ice-launches-military-style-raids-in-los-angeles-what-we-know
