LOS ANGELES, CA — Recent immigration raids in Southern California have sparked widespread concern and protests, particularly in the Pasadena area, where at least six individuals were detained on Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing enforcement operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Observers have reported that these operations, characterized by aggressive tactics and a lack of transparency, have created an atmosphere of fear among communities, with residents feeling reluctant to go about their daily lives.
Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents the Pasadena area, has voiced her alarm over the increasing frequency of these ICE activities, citing reports of multiple operations in her district, including those on the weekend and again on Wednesday morning.
In response to the raids, Chu announced plans to visit the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles to seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding the detentions and to ensure that her constituents are granted due process.
However, upon arriving, Chu’s office indicated that she was denied access to the facility by ICE agents, leaving her constituents without answers.
Emerging video footage from the Pasadena area has raised serious concerns about the conduct of ICE agents, showing them allegedly committing violations of the law, including brandishing weapons at civilians and driving recklessly through residential neighborhoods without proper identification or warrants.
On Wednesday, around 6 a.m., multiple individuals were detained near a shopping center in Pasadena, with reports indicating that two men were taken into custody at a bus stop on Los Robles Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard.
Footage captured from a nearby donut shop shows ICE agents detaining these men, who appeared to be surrounded by armed officers wearing face coverings.
In light of the situation, Lisa Derderian, a spokesperson for the city of Pasadena, described the unfolding enforcement actions as alarming. She confirmed that several locations in Pasadena were the focus of ICE activities and mentioned that city officials were reviewing social media posts and videos to gather more information about the ongoing situation.
The enforcement actions led to the temporary closure of the Memorial Park Station on Metro, with the station only reopening later in the day.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn also spoke out against ICE’s methods, stating that the agency’s raids are instilling fear in communities, with families reportedly keeping their children home from school and avoiding public spaces.
Hahn expressed her concern that such actions could lead to decreased public transportation use, stating, “I wouldn’t be surprised if after people read about this incident, we see more people avoid taking Metro.
The fear they are spreading is doing profound harm in our communities.”
In light of these events, Hahn directed Metro staff to report back to the board regarding the protocols in place should ICE agents board public transportation.
Both she and Derderian emphasized that neither the city of Pasadena nor the local police department participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws, and they do not inquire about individuals’ immigration status in their everyday services.
The raids in Pasadena followed similar operations conducted in Pico Rivera, where local authorities confirmed ICE’s presence and acknowledged the anxiety it has caused among residents.
In Pico Rivera, ICE executed raids at various locations, including a Food 4 Less store and a Lowe’s home improvement center.
During these operations, a man identified as 20-year-old Adrian Andrew Martinez was arrested after allegedly intervening in the questioning of another detained individual.
The city of Pico Rivera reiterated its stance against federal immigration enforcement, declaring, “The city of Pico Rivera and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are not involved, cooperating with, or supporting, in any way, federal immigration control operations.
Our city maintains a steadfast commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their migrant status.
Each person has the right to due process as guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Following the raids, a protest took place, drawing about 100 participants who marched from City Hall to a prominent intersection in Pico Rivera, expressing their discontent with the aggressive tactics employed by ICE.
While Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies monitored the demonstration, no arrests were reported during the event.
ICE has released some names of individuals detained during the raids, citing their prior criminal histories as justification for their apprehension. Among those named is Efran Omar Rosales-Serrano, a Honduran national with a previous conviction in Florida for lewd and lascivious behavior involving a minor.
As the immigration raids continue to unfold in Southern California, residents are left grappling with the fear and uncertainty that such enforcement practices bring to their communities.
image source from：patch
