Home Depot, Fashion District Targeted In Immigration Raids By ICE

LOS ANGELES, CA — Federal agents took several people into custody at multiple locations near downtown Los Angeles Friday as part of an immigration crackdown that triggered violent clashes between protestors and authorities.

Federal officials appeared to use military-style force with what appeared to be flash bombs, less-lethal munitions, armored vehicles and agents or soldiers dressed in camoflauge and carrying rifles as crowds confonted them, shouting, throwing objects and sitting in the street to block the military-like caravans. It was an extraordinary scene in a major American city. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested.

“Our community is under attack and has been terrorized,” Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, told the crowd of protesters, according to the Los Angeles Times. “These are workers, these are fathers, these are mothers.”

Agents from what appeared to be multiple law enforcement agencies could be seen escorting men in handcuffs into vehicles outside the Home Depot on Wilshire Boulevard in the Westlake neighborhood on Friday morning. Agents also conducted raids in and near downtown Los Angeles at two locations connected to a clothing company, and reportedly sought to enter a school in Koreatown.

There were also reports of additional raids being carried out Friday in areas such as Pico-Union and Cypress Park. Angelica Salas of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant rights said there were at least seven immigration raids held across the region Friday, many of them at workplaces, including a doughnut shop. She said 45 people were detained in the various operations.

Salas said the raids were "random sweeps" conducted without warrants, and those arrested were simply racially profiled.

RELATED: South Bay Nine-Year-Old To Be Deported By ICE

Footage on the Citizen app shows what appears to be advocates for migrants trying to confront law enforcement, but their efforts to free those detained were unsuccessful, KTLA reported.

"Today, the LAPD became aware that ICE was conducting operations in the City of Los Angeles. I'm aware that these actions cause anxiety for many Angelenos, so I want to make it clear: the LAPD is not involved in civil immigration enforcement," Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement.

At the end of Friday's Los Angeles City Council meeting, Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez said her office had received reports throughout the morning "about swift and aggressive immigration raids and enforcement."

Day laborers, many of them immigrants, often gather outside home improvement stores looking for temporary work. Federal agents have targeted Home Depot locations in Southern California in the past. In April, more than a dozen day laborers were detained by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside a Pomona Home Depot.

Additional Enforcement Actions

Later Friday morning, another raid took place at an Ambiance clothing store along Towne Avenue in the Fashion District near downtown Los Angeles. A crowd of people and some protesters gathered outside the store as the operation was being carried out, most of them taking photos or videos with cell phones. Several people wearing FBI vests were seen standing by outside the store.

Several hours after the raid began, what appeared to be at least two dozen people were led out of the Fashion District building in handcuffs and loaded into white vans and driven away, escorted by troops in the street in tactical gear. Some spectators could be seen throwing objects at the vans, while others ran into the street.
At one point, a protester placed his hands on a white SUV that was being driven from the scene and tried to maneuver in front of the vehicle, but fell to the ground and was nearly run over. The driver of the SUV came to a quick stop, then backed up and sped away.

The person on the ground stood up a short time later and did not appear to be seriously injured.

Early Friday afternoon, a throng of federal agents amassed at what appeared to be an Ambiance clothing warehouse or corporate headquarters building near 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue in the South Los Angeles area. One person wearing a Drug Enforcement Administration vest was seen at that location.

Dozens of protesters also gathered at that location, and at one point, federal agents had to shove protesters out of the path of a van that was being driven into the building's parking lot. At least one protester was taken to the ground and arrested as the crowd gathered, prompting more shoving by agents to keep the group at bay.
The unidentified person was later seen being given medical treatment, apparently having been pepper-sprayed in the eyes.

The Service Employees International Union California issued a statement saying the union's president, David Huerta, was "injured and detained" during one of Friday's raids. It was unclear if Huerta was the man seen being arrested outside the Ambiance headquarters.

"SEIU California members call for the immediate release of our president, David Huerta, who was injured and detained at the site of one of today's ICE raids in Los Angeles," the union's executive director, Tia Orr, said in a statement. "He is now receiving medical attention while in custody. We are proud of President Huerta's righteous participation as a community observer, in keeping with his long history of advocating for immigrant workers and with the highest values of our movement: standing up to injustice, regardless of personal risk or the power of those perpetrating it."

Around 12:25 p.m., LAPD officers responded to a report from "another agency" of a man with a knife in the 2400 block of East 15th Street — the location of the Ambiance warehouse — but no arrests were made, a department spokesman said.

Law Enforcement Responds

In response to a query from a reporter, an FBI spokeswoman said specific details about immigration operations and arrests must come from Homeland Security Investigations as the lead agency, but she offered the following statement on the FBI's posture regarding immigration arrests:

"The FBI is supporting our partners at the Department of Homeland Security in their immigration operations all over the country, as directed by the Attorney General. The FBI is accustomed to providing investigative and technical assistance to our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners on a regular basis.

"As we have been asked to do, we are sending agents to participate in these immigration enforcement efforts. That includes assisting in cities where major operations are already underway and where we have special agents embedded on operational teams with DHS. Our help may vary depending on what DHS needs, such as SWAT operators, who can support high risk arrest operations, and other resources such as intelligence analysts and technical support working from command posts."

The LAPD chief reiterated the city's position on immigration enforcement.

"While the LAPD will continue to have a visible presence in all our communities to ensure public safety, we will not assist or participate in any sort of mass deportations, nor will the LAPD try to determine an individual's immigration status," McDonnell said in a statement. "Since 1979, our policy has barred officers from initiating police action solely to determine a person's immigration status. The department remains focused on critical issues like crime reduction, enhancing public safety, and improving the quality of life for all Angelenos. I want everyone, including our immigrant community, to feel safe calling the police in their time of need and know that the LAPD will be there for you without regard to one's immigration status."

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna also insisted that his agency did not take part in any immigration actions.

"The Sheriff's Department does not enforce civil immigration laws, nor do we ask about an individual's immigration status when responding to call for service. Our focus and priority remain on enforcing state and local laws to ensure safety and well-being of our diverse communities throughout Los Angeles County," Luna said in a statement.

"We deeply value diversity, inclusion and public trust within our communities and we want our residents to know that when they call for help, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will respond, investigate, and protect everyone -- regardless of a person's legal status.

"We recognize that these reports have caused fear. anxiety, and concern within our communities. We urge everyone to remain calm and peaceful as we continue to place your safety and well-being at the forefront of our efforts," he added.

Politicians Respond

Hernandez, speaking at Friday's City Council meeting, shared more information about her respond to the enforcement actions.

"My team and I have been in contact with community members and rapid response organizers since early this morning in my district," Hernandez said. "... LA is a sanctuary city, and we've made it clear that we will not cooperate and use our resources for ICE and federal immigration enforcement, but that doesn't stop them from showing up. Now we're seeing their tactics quickly escalate.

"They're swooping in fast, without warning and leaving just as quickly. They don't hang around because they know we mobilize. Our resistance is working, and that's exactly why they have elevated their approach and changed their approach, colleagues."

Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement saying she was "deeply angered" by the raids.
"This morning, we received reports of federal immigration enforcement actions in multiple locations in Los Angeles," Bass said. "As mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place. These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. My office is in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations. We will not stand for this."

Bass indicated she will hold a meeting Monday with local immigrant- rights organizations to discuss the raids.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis called the actions "deeply disturbing."
"The individuals detained are hardworking Angelenos who contribute to our local economy and labor force every day," Solis said in a statement. "It is also horrifying that ICE targeted Skid Row to intimidate some of our most vulnerable residents. Trump said he would go after criminals, not innocent hardworking people contributing to our economy and supporting their families."

A representative for the LA-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights told Patch the organization is planning a rally at 4 p.m. outside the 300 N. Los Angeles St. federal office building, at which time the group hopes to have information to share about Friday's operations.

In preparation for possible immigration enforcement action, the organization recommends people memorize important phone numbers, save money, and make family preparedness plans including paperwork designating childcare providers for children left behind. They instruct residents not to open their door to agents without first seeing a warrant signed by a judge, not to tell agents anything more than their name or birthdate, and not to carry fake documents or to insult or lie to agents.

Additionally, a coalition of more than 25 immigrant rights, legal, labor and faith-based organizations known as the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network recently created a hotline to report ICE activity, connect migrants with legal aid and prevent wrongful detentions.

RELATED:

• San Diego Elected Officials Denounce Immigration Raid
• 15 Detained By ICE, Including Several Bay Area Children

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.