Increased immigration enforcement leads to numerous detentions and tense situations sprawling throughout Los Angeles.
Amidst the recent imposition of a downtown LA curfew and the subsiding of metropolitan unrest, it seems that the federal immigration crackdown unleashed across various LA territories is gaining momentum – from suburban shopping centers to agricultural grounds in Ventura County.
The White House disclosed on Wednesday that over 330 individuals have been rounded up by federal authorities since the sweeps began last week in LA. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt disclosed that about a third of the group, totaling 113 people, had prior criminal histories.
Reports indicate a spate of scattered immigration arrests countywide, with many of these incidents happening at workplaces. This has heightened the anxiety levels among undocumented workers in the region. In Downey, immigration officials apprehended an elderly man dropping off his granddaughter at school, and arrested individuals at a Home Depot and LA Fitness, Councilman Mario Trujillo confirmed.
One notable incident unfolded Wednesday morning in Boyle Heights, where federal agents slammed and trapped a white sedan carrying a man, woman, and a child. Agents wrestled the male driver from the vehicle while leaving the woman and child behind. The LAPD is currently investigating the incident.
The Department of Homeland Security allegedly claimed on social media that the arrest was of a "violent rioter who punched a CBP officer." However, an LAPD spokesperson disputes this claim.
These sweeps coincide with Los Angeles imposing an 8pm curfew, which has led to the arrest of over 225 people Tuesday night. Although there was less overnight vandalism and a reduction in clashes with police, the number of protest arrests has been steadily increasing – 27 on Saturday, 40 on Sunday, over 100 on Monday, and 225 on Tuesday.
The curfew encompasses key downtown buildings, including City Hall, the main county courthouse, LAPD headquarters, and federal buildings, which have seen significant demonstrations, resulting in property damage and arrests.
Mayor Karen Bass, accompanied by faith leaders, marched to the federal building on Los Angeles Street shortly before the curfew commenced. Bass expressed her conviction that the curfew was essential to quell the actions of individuals who do not support the immigrant community.
"There were... arrests, but they weren't for looting, they weren't for vandalism,” Bass explained. "They were for failure to disperse as well as curfew violations. I'm hoping that people got the message that we're serious and we don't even have those arrests tonight."
Portions of LA faced curfews during the 2020 George Floyd demonstrations. Although no demonstrators were initially detained by local law enforcement during the initial confrontations with federal immigration authorities on Friday, tensions escalated throughout the weekend, resulting in larger gatherings marked by incidences of violence, theft, graffiti, and property destruction.
The majority of those arrested in the Tuesday protests were merely suspected of failing to disperse. Other alleged offenses include assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, conspiracy to commit vandalism, possession of a firearm, and discharging a laser at an LAPD airship. Two LAPD officers were injured during the day and received medical treatment.
LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced charges against five individuals linked to the protests, including assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, conspiracy to commit vandalism, vandalism, commercial burglary, and misdemeanor reckless driving. Prosecutors allege that one individual handed out commercial-grade fireworks and hurled them at police officers. Hochman expects law enforcement to bring forward dozens of additional cases related to the protests in the coming weeks, with more arrests possible.
"There's a tremendous amount of video out there through social media," Hochman said. "We will track you down, we will arrest you, we will prosecute you, and we will punish you. So for people who've already engaged in this illegal activity, we're coming for you."
On Wednesday morning, downtown LA streets remained calm, with two National Guard members stationed outside the Metropolitan Detention Center. The facility's sign had been defaced with the phrases "Dead Cops," "F- ICE," and "Death to Colonist Domination."
Uribe Lazo, who works in downtown LA, visited the Metropolitan Detention Center Wednesday morning to assess the aftermath of the political unrest. Lazo viewed the curfew as successful in restraining much of the violence Tuesday night.
"It looked like they had things under control," Lazo said. "There were a few scuffles here or there, and people got arrested for sure, but for the most part, from what I saw on TV, they had a handle on things. They weren't letting people get rowdy."
Lazo, the first-generation son of Salvadoran immigrants, said he empathized with both protesters and law enforcement, having worked as an office assistant and paralegal for an immigration attorney. He has assisted immigrants in filing citizenship applications and family reunification petitions.
"I understand the plight of people coming here undocumented because that's probably their only recourse," Lazo said. "It's either that or starve to death wherever they live."
Paul, a 23-year-old Silver Lake resident, was at the Metropolitan Detention Center, trying to find work while hiding his last name from reporters. He revealed that his mother had been adamant about him staying indoors during the unrest.
"Although she is documented, right now, with this environment, everything's very intense," Paul said. "It's been very insane, honestly."
Lucas Flores, a 25-year-old Hollywood resident, protested outside the Metropolitan Detention Center on Wednesday for the first time since the immigration sweeps began. Flores criticized the curfew, asserting it was merely a fear-inducing tactic.
"It makes it another excuse to arrest citizens for doing what they feel like is necessary to do when political unrest is happening," Flores said.
While 700 Marines have been mobilized to aid the National Guard, their presence has not yet been noticed on LA streets. A spokesperson for the U.S. Northern Command explained that the troops have yet to complete their training before being deployed in downtown.
General Gregory Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, emphasized that federal troops are in Los Angeles solely to protect federal property and personnel and do not possess arrest powers.
"They are not law enforcement officers, and they do not have the authority to make arrests," Guillot said. "There are very unique situations where they could detain someone if detaining was necessary to defend, but they could only detain that person long enough to hand it off to a proper law enforcement official."
During Tuesday, National Guard troops armed with rifles accompanied federal immigration enforcement officers during the detention of individuals, images shared on ICE social media show. Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched a lawsuit to restrict the federal government's use of military personnel in Los Angeles, condemning Trump's move to send the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles as an abuse of power.
"Democracy is under attack right before our eyes. The moment we've feared has arrived," Newsom said.
- The immigration crackdown in Los Angeles has led to a spike in arrests, with over 330 individuals being rounded up by federal authorities since the sweeps began.
- Many of these immigration arrests have taken place at workplaces, causing anxiety among undocumented workers in the region.
- The city of Los Angeles, amidst this immigration issue, has also imposed an 8 pm curfew, resulting in the arrest of over 225 people on Tuesday night.
- In a recent demonstration, federal agents arrested a man, woman, and a child in Boyle Heights, claiming they were violent rioters, but this claim was disputed by the LAPD.
- The Department of Homeland Security has been active on social media, claiming that the arrests are of individuals who are not supportive of the immigrant community.
- The ongoing tension between law enforcement and protesters has led to charges being announced against five individuals, including assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, conspiracy to commit vandalism, vandalism, commercial burglary, and misdemeanor reckless driving.
