U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a series of raids in Los Angeles County, leading to protests and clashes with federal agents. The operations began on Friday and continued into Saturday, targeting multiple locations, including a Home Depot in Paramount and a clothing warehouse in the garment district of downtown Los Angeles.
On Friday, federal agents arrested over 40 individuals on immigration violations, causing chaos in downtown Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, the raids led to confrontations between agents and protesters, who gathered to express their opposition. Agents used flash-bang grenades and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, while protesters attempted to block the agents’ vehicles.
The raids continued on Saturday morning in Paramount, where protesters clashed with federal agents near a Home Depot. ABC7 reported that some protesters overturned shopping carts and other objects in the street, while U.S. Border Patrol agents in gas masks were present. Flash-bang smoke grenades were deployed, and at least one protester was injured.
The raids have drawn criticism from local officials and community leaders. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the actions, stating they were intended to “sow terror” in the city. The president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, David Huerta, was arrested during the protests and charged with impeding a federal agent. Huerta, who was documenting the raids, was treated at a hospital before being transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Federal authorities, led by U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, defended the raids, citing the need to enforce immigration laws. However, the tactics used have sparked outrage and calls for an investigation by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, along with other California representatives.
The situation remains tense as protests continue, and legal proceedings are expected to follow, including Huerta’s arraignment scheduled for Monday.
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