Immigration operation named 'Operation Trojan Horse' using Penske rental vehicles sparks opposition
Controversial Immigration Raid Sparks Legal Action in Los Angeles
Los Angeles officials are taking action to enforce a temporary restraining order (TRO) that bans indiscriminate immigration stops and racial profiling by federal agents in immigration raids. This comes after a series of controversial raids at Home Depot locations around L.A., where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were accused of violating court orders by conducting broad stops without proper cause.
The TRO, part of a class action lawsuit seeking to end what it alleges are unlawful immigration stops and arrests, was issued days after a federal appeals court upheld the order in seven Southern California counties, including Los Angeles. The raid at the Home Depot in Westlake, Los Angeles, resulted in the arrest of more than a dozen undocumented immigrants from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and was conducted by Border Patrol agents.
In response to these enforcement actions, local leaders including L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and multiple organizations held rallies condemning the raids and demanding protection for immigrant communities. The temporary restraining order restricts ICE and Border Patrol from carrying out immigration arrests on the basis of race or ethnicity or in a way that is considered indiscriminate.
Though specific legal strategies by Los Angeles officials are still emerging, likely options being considered include seeking judicial enforcement or expansion of the TRO to more explicitly prevent such raids at private businesses like Home Depot. Another option is filing civil suits or complaints against ICE for violating court mandates that prohibit racial profiling in immigration enforcement.
Local officials are also considering increasing local ordinances or policies to restrict local cooperation with federal immigration raids, such as limiting information sharing or restricting local police involvement during these operations. Advocating for state or city injunctions to stop ICE from conducting enforcement actions that are harmful or disproportionate to immigrant communities is also being considered.
While DHS and Border Patrol officials state they conduct operations legally and ethically, local officials remain vigilant and focused on using judicial and policy tools to protect immigrant rights and enforce the court’s TRO against indiscriminate stops. The operation was dubbed "Trojan Horse" by authorities.
- The controversial "Trojan Horse" operation by ICE and Border Patrol, which led to the arrest of multiple undocumented immigrants, has sparked a series of general-news stories and a surge in politics discussions, as local leaders condemn the raids and demand protection for immigrant communities.
- As video footage of the immigration raid at Home Depot circulates online, fueling further public outrage, local officials are considering legal strategies to prevent similar incidents in the future, such as seeking expansion of the temporary restraining order to more explicitly prevent raids at private businesses.
- The charged political climate around immigration is further exacerbated by allegations of racial profiling in these enforcement actions, with crime-and-justice organizations calling for a thorough investigation to ensure compliance with court orders and legal protections for all individuals, regardless of their immigrant status.
