Trump's border enforcement potentially breached judicial directives during an immigration crackdown.
In a turn of events that has sparked both legal challenges and community protests, federal immigration raids, dubbed "Operation Trojan Horse," have continued in Southern California despite a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by a federal judge in July 2025. The TRO, upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last week, aimed to block indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests.
The latest raid, which took place at a Los Angeles Home Depot parking lot, resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals, many of whom were laborers or street vendors. The raid, conducted using a Penske truck, has raised serious concerns and complaints from immigrant rights advocates who argue that these raids likely violate the TRO.
Plaintiffs represented by the ACLU and groups like United Farm Workers have expressed their concerns, stating that the raids are a clear disregard for the court order. Civil rights attorneys involved in the lawsuit have condemned the raids as inconsistent with the administration’s claims that only gang members or serious criminals were targeted, suggesting broader unlawful enforcement practices.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli have defended the raids as lawful and targeted, asserting there are no sanctuary zones exempt from federal immigration law enforcement. Essayli, who applauded the raid at Home Depot, maintains that the raids are focused on individuals who have broken the law.
The controversy has sparked widespread community response, including a 24-hour “Day of Action” protest and boycott involving immigrant rights groups and labor unions. The protests demand accountability from companies like Penske and Home Depot and urge vigilance about further raids.
Penske, the truck rental company, has distanced itself from the raid, stating that it did not authorize the raid and was not aware of its trucks being used. Randolph P. Ryerson, a spokesperson for Penske, has emphasized that the company prohibits the transportation of people in the cargo area of its vehicles under any circumstances.
The legal challenge against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics, specifically regarding "Operation Trojan Horse," is ongoing with significant controversy. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals later affirmed the federal judge's ruling, further solidifying the TRO.
Community watchdog groups have posted videos of alleged raids and arrests at Home Depots, car washes, and grocery stores across the county, adding fuel to the ongoing debate.
In a separate development, it was revealed that Roger Penske, chairman and founder of the Penske Corporation, donated more than $1.1 million to pro-Trump groups during the 2024 election cycle. Penske, who was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by Trump in 2019, also banned members of the white nationalist group, Patriot Front, from renting its vehicles earlier this summer.
[1] Los Angeles Times, "Immigration Raids Continue in Southern California Despite Court Order," July 2025. [2] NBC News, "Federal Judge Blocks Indiscriminate Immigration Arrests in Southern California," July 2025. [3] ACLU, "Southern California Residents Sue DHS Over Unlawful Stop-and-Arrest Tactics," July 2025. [4] CNN, "Civil Rights Groups Allege Trump Administration's Immigration Raids Violate Court Order," July 2025. [5] ABC7, "Immigrant Rights Groups, Labor Unions Protest Immigration Raids in Southern California," July 2025.
- The ongoing "Operation Trojan Horse" immigration raids in Southern California, as seen in recent events at Home Depot and other general-news outlets, have sparked controversy due to concerns from immigrant rights advocates that they violate a TRO issued by a federal judge.
- The recent raid at a Los Angeles Home Depot parking lot, which resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals, has been the focus of politics, with civil rights attorneys arguing its inconsistency with the administration's claims and plaintiffs represented by the ACLU maintaining it a clear disregard for the court order.
