Protests erupted in southeast Los Angeles County on Friday evening, as demonstrators confronted masked individuals in fatigues following the detention of at least three people at a car wash in Bell.
The immigration operation occurred at Jack’s Car Wash and Detailing, which is located in the 7000 block of Atlantic Avenue, north of Florence Avenue. Eyewitnesses captured security camera footage that shows masked men in olive vests pursuing a car wash employee wearing a bright green uniform.
In another alarming scene recorded on video, a second employee dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans was surrounded by the masked individuals, with his hands tied behind his back. As the situation escalated, the employee was tackled to the ground, drawing the attention of customers and bystanders who began recording the incident on their phones.
According to Jesús Rafael Cervantes, the detained individual is a U.S. citizen and a worker at the car wash. He claimed that his brother intervened to defend a co-worker, which prompted the aggressive response from the agents.
“Just for defending someone, they came and knocked him down. As you can see in the videos, they came and knocked him down like that, just like that. And that’s unfair, that they come and grab a person like that as if he were an animal or something,” Cervantes told The Times.
In response to the federal actions, a crowd of protesters gathered outside the car wash, demonstrating against the immigration enforcement. One video shared with The Times depicted a protester spraying white paint on a silver SUV while others expressed their hostility towards the agents, demanding them to leave.
As tensions escalated, officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated that federal vehicles were targeted during what they insisted were lawful operations. Their statement mentioned that one vehicle was rammed and its tires were slashed during the protests.
“Federal law enforcement is facing an ever-escalating increase in assaults — but we will not be deterred,” the department asserted. “If you assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted.”
Despite affirmations from federal authorities, the statement did not clarify the number of individuals taken into custody during the immigration actions.
The confrontations in Bell, an area with a significant population of Latino and Lebanese residents, coincided with ongoing federal efforts to locate and apprehend undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles. These operations have sparked considerable backlash from local officials and have left many residents feeling the need to go into hiding.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass raised concerns about the identity of the agents involved in the operations. “We’re not sure who these armed men are. They show up without uniforms. They show up completely masked. They refuse to give ID. They’re driving regular cars with tinted windows and in some cases, out-of-state license plates. Who are these people?” she inquired.
The protest zone was marked by tensions, as armed individuals wearing balaclavas maintained a presence near a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop. Protesters shouted insults and called for accountability, while demonstrating with flags representing both Mexico and an upside-down U.S. flag, a traditional symbol of distress.
The situation intensified as Mayor Alcantar Loza of Cudahy noted that a vehicle drove into the crowd, leading to increased confrontations as more people became agitated.
“It felt like there was a point being made to incite violence,” she reported. “People were peacefully protesting, and it became something completely different because of the vehicle that was trying to drive into the crowd.”
As the night wore on, peaceful protesters congregated around Jack’s Car Wash. Among them were individuals waving Mexican and American flags while chanting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Slogans such as “ICE out of everywhere!!!” and “Immigrants built this country” were displayed on various signs.
A second immigration operation took place in nearby Maywood, although no one was detained there, according to local officials.
However, the atmosphere in Maywood was charged with drama as a minor collision occurred between a blue BMW and an unmarked SUV carrying at least three agents in green vests. Following the incident, the agents detained the BMW’s driver but later released him after public outcry from bystanders who shouted for his release.
Fernando Botello, who witnessed the scene, expressed his disbelief at the unfolding events. He had detected signs of immigration agents’ presence through alerts on his citizen app, leading him to approach the area. As he arrived, he found it impossible to navigate due to multiple vehicles blocking the roadway, prompting him to exit his car and observe.
Despite protests asking for the driver’s release and demanding accountability from the agents, tensions escalated further when authorities reportedly resorted to using tear gas. Video evidence from Botello captured an armed individual in a black SUV tossing an object towards the crowd, creating panic among those present after the loud explosion of what is believed to have been a flash bang grenade.
“I was upset because the people were exercising their right,” Botello said, emotional as he recounted the chaotic scene. “They weren’t hitting the officers’ vehicles, they weren’t in the middle of the street. You’re punishing people for standing up for their neighbors and yourself.”
Reflecting on the events of the day, many in the crowd expressed uncertainty about the future and how long such confrontations would continue. “It feels surreal. I don’t know how long this is going to last,” Botello said, highlighting the atmosphere of confusion and fear that currently hangs over the community.
image source from：latimes
