Protests broke out at various hotels in Los Angeles County on Wednesday, fueled by social media claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were staying there.
Demonstrators gathered outside hotels in Glendale, Downey, Whittier, and Pasadena, chanting slogans and voicing their opposition to recent immigration enforcement actions.
At one point, around 200 protesters were seen outside the Hilton in Glendale, as the demonstration kicked off shortly after sunset and continued late into the night.
Participants expressed their concerns over the ICE raids, describing them as aggressive and unfairly targeting immigrant communities.
One demonstrator articulated the sentiment of many, stating, “Why are we going after hardworking immigrants who are just trying to make a living? They make this country what it is today. I’m out here for them.”
In Whittier, protests escalated as police were called to assist in moving demonstrators from the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel to the sidewalk.
Law enforcement could not confirm whether ICE agents were present in the hotel at that time.
Meanwhile, the protest at the Embassy Suites in Downey remained mostly peaceful, with no reported arrests.
A watch commander informed Eyewitness News that there were no ICE agents stationed at the Embassy Suites.
In a broader security context, approximately 2,800 service members were deployed throughout the Los Angeles region as of Wednesday, consisting of 2,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines who had recently completed their training.
According to a status update from U.S. Northern Command, the Marines are expected to work alongside National Guard troops within the next 48 hours as part of Task Force 51 under Title 10 status.
This deployment aims to ensure the protection of federal personnel and property.
While the trained Marines can accompany ICE during missions, they are not actively involved in ICE operations.
The status update clarifies that Title 10 forces are prohibited from performing law enforcement duties; they are responsible for protection rather than direct participation in enforcement activities.
However, there are specific circumstances under which these troops may detain an individual, such as to prevent an assault, protect others, or avoid interference with federal personnel.
In such cases, the troops must transfer custody to the appropriate civilian law enforcement officials.
Graphic protests also unfolded outside the DoubleTree Hotel on Greenleaf Street in Whittier, where demonstrators filled the streets and held up signs in opposition to ICE.
A similar scene transpired at the Westin Hotel in Pasadena, where people waved flags and displayed signs denouncing ICE activities.
In addition, an anti-ICE demonstration gathered momentum outside the Embassy Suites Hotel on Firestone Boulevard in Downey.
Despite the intensity of the protests, there has been no official confirmation that ICE agents are actually stationed at any of the hotels where protests have occurred.
The Burbank Police Department also released a statement on Instagram, indicating that they were unaware of any ICE agents operating in the city.
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