Reports Of ICE Sweeps Across Los Angeles Unfounded

LOS ANGELES, CA —Authorities and community groups pushed back against tabloid reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across Los Angeles over the weekend.

As of Monday, there were no confirmed reports of workplace raids in the city nor did ICE issue press releases touting high-profile arrests as they did in other major cities where detentions numbered in the hundreds over the weekend. An ICE spokesman in Los Angeles confirmed to Patch that the agency does not conduct raids or sweeps and instead follows intelligence-driven leads for targeted arrests. Immigrant advocacy groups active in Los Angeles also have not received reports of ICE raids across the city.

"ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) law enforcement activity takes place around the clock, however, ICE does not conduct raids or sweeps, nor does the agency operate roadblocks or checkpoints," a Los Angeles ICE spokesman told Patch. "ICE’s enforcement resources are based on intelligence-driven leads and ICE officers do not target noncitizens indiscriminately."

ICE posted about one such arrest Monday on X involving an unnamed El Salvadorian man wanted in his home country on charges of homicide and association with terrorist organizations. It's not clear when or where the arrest took place, but according to ICE, the man is awaiting deportation.

Though ICE officials in Los Angeles claim the agency does not to conduct raids or sweeps, the New York Post published a story headlined "Trump ramps up dramatic daybreak immigration raids in sanctuary city LA." The story does not cite any specific raids, arrests, locations, arrest tallies or named sources connected to the supposed Los Angeles raids. The report spread confusion and alarm in the community.

False or exaggerated reports about immigration raids are designed to terrorize the community, said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, director of communications for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Los Angeles.

"What we believe is happening is that this is psychological warfare...trying to intimidate and coerce the migrant community into a fearful state of subsistence, and that is cruelty at the highest level," Cabrera said.

On Friday, immigrants rights groups including legal, labor and faith-based organizations launched a rapid response network and hotline to report ICE activity in the Los Angeles area and provide resources to immigrants in need. The hotline can be reached at 888-624-4752.

Cabrera said his office, which offers resources for immigrants facing deportation or detention, received just a couple hotline calls over the weekend from residents targeted by ICE.

"The traditional way of thinking of ICE raids, which is large sweeps with dramatic arrests, is not is what's going on in Los Angeles," said Cabrera. "What we have seen is targeted detentions which have resulted in arrests and likely deportations.

"One happened to be a couple who was approaching their car at a parking lot, and officers called his name," added Cabrera. "The wife, knowing her rights, remained silent, and she kept on walking."

The man was being held in detention for deportation. His criminal history is a DUI incident from five years ago, said Cabrera. The couple has adult children who were born in the United States, and the pair had prepared for the possibility of an ICE encounter. That is why she kept walking, exercised her right to remain silent and was not detained, Cabrera said.

Cabrera's organization recommends immigrants and community members know their rights.

"What we are telling the community, is 'prepare, empower yourself, and do not panic,'" he said. "If approached by ICE officers, remain silent."

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.