On Friday, dozens of immigration law enforcement officials in Los Angeles conducted a series of coordinated immigration raids that led to widespread protests.
Concerns about the force being used by federal immigration officials and the rights of undocumented people have grown even more acute with the raids, which were carried out in a military-style operation.
What we know about the most recent raids and their results are listed below.
What transpired in Los Angeles?
On Friday morning, federal agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the DEA conducted a number of “immigration enforcement operations” throughout Los Angeles.
People were detained for “immigration violations and the use of fraudulent documents.” Multiple legal observers claimed that the arrests were made without judicial warrants, and the ACLU confirmed this claim.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which did not participate in the raids, was contacted to halt the protests that followed.
The Trump administration’s intensified immigration policies included a wider program.
Which locations were seized?
The raids targeted a number of locations in LA’s and nearby neighborhoods. These locations are known to have significant migrant populations and labor-intensive industries.
Advocates reported having documented enforcement activity at seven sites, according to Angelica Salas, executive director of the California-based Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). In addition to the clothing wholesaler Ambiance Apparel in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles, there are two Home Depot locations in the Westlake District of Los Angeles.
In addition to 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue in south Los Angeles, there were other locations where raids were carried out, including day labor facilities and one more Ambiance facility.
How many people have been detained?
The “administrative arrest” of 44 people for immigration-related offenses was reported by ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
In contrast to a criminal arrest, an administrative arrest refers to detention for civil immigration violations, such as overstaying a visa or losing legal status, and is not a crime. These arrests can lead to detention, deportation, temporary re-entry restrictions, and the refusal of upcoming immigration requests.
However, advocates say the number of arrests was higher. Only three lawyers have been permitted to enter the detention facility where they are being held to provide legal advice, according to Caleb Soto of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, who told Al Jazeera.
Additionally, David Huerta, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California president, was detained for allegedly obstructing federal agents during the raids. Before being taken into custody, Huerta reportedly suffered injuries during the arrest and had medical care at Los Angeles General Medical Center.
What kinds of raids took place?
According to experts, these raids’ military-style executions set them apart from typical civil enforcement operations.
Federal agents in the operations were heavily armed, dressed tactically, with some wearing camouflage and carrying rifles, according to witnesses, legal observers, and advocacy groups.
Agents stormed unmarked black SUVs and armored vehicles, and at times, blocked entire streets around the buildings’ perimeters. Similar to the steps that would be taken during a high-threat counterterrorism or drug bust operation, drones were reportedly used for surveillance in some areas and access to sites was blocked with yellow tape.
The ACLU referred to the “oppressive and vile paramilitary operation” as an “oppressive and vile paramilitary operation.” According to civil liberties organizations, the methods employed had sparked outrage in neighborhood neighborhoods and may have violated civil immigration enforcement guidelines.
What caused the protests to start?
Hunderts of protesters gathered outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, where detainees were being processed, as the news about the raids spread via social media and through immigrant advocacy networks.
Demonstrators chanted slogans and demanded the release of those arrested, blocking doors and exits, and preventing traffic. Anti-ICE slogans were spray-painted on the exterior walls of the building. Several protesters made physical ICE stop attempts, which resulted in verbal altercations with the law.
Protesters were informed that if they remained in the area, and LAPD officers issued dispersal orders and issued arrest warrants. Officers in riot gear used tear gas, pepper spray, and “less-lethal munitions,” including rubber bullets, to impose the order. Additionally, all LAPD officers were required to remain on duty in a city-wide tactical alert.
What’s going on right now?
The LAPD declared the protests to be an “unlawful assembly,” meaning that those who didn’t leave the area could face arrest shortly after 7 p.m. [02:00 GMT Saturday]. No formal end time was made publicly known, but the declaration appeared to remain in effect until the crowd dispersed later that evening.
Without access to beds, blankets, or adequate food and water, hundreds of detainees, including children, were reportedly detained overnight in the basement of the federal building, according to US media outlets and human rights organizations.
However, an ICE spokesperson told CBS News that the agency “categorically refutes the claims made by immigration activists in Los Angeles,” stating that it takes its responsibility seriously in providing care for those in custody.
All of the people being held are still unaccounted for. Some have been released, but others are still being detained, and their current locations or circumstances have not been fully disclosed.
What responses to the raids have people given?
The raids and the way they were carried out were criticized by local and state officials.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass claimed in a statement that such operations “sow terror in our communities and disrupt fundamental principles of safety in our city” in a statement that was shared on X on Friday.
We won’t support this, either. pic. twitter.com/Ug1CN4JKOz
The operations are an attempt “to meet an arbitrary arrest quota,” according to California Governor Gavin Newsom, who described them as “cruel” and “chaotic.”
The Los Angeles City Council’s 15 members jointly denounced the raids in a statement.
On the other hand, some members of the Trump administration defended the actions and criticized local leaders for backtracking. For instance, Stephen Miller, the White House’s deputy chief of staff, claimed that Karen Bass, the mayor, was breaking federal law.
You are completely unelected in this matter. Federal law is supreme, and it will be upheld. https://t.co/N53UBl3UM4
Source: Aljazeera
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