At the beginning of this week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents intensified their activities in the Los Angeles region. They ramped up workplace and neighborhood raids, like in predominantly immigrant communities such as Montebello, where they raided local businesses including a swap meet in Santa Fe Springs. California leaders, including their Governor and AG, have been vociferously opposing these moves. They claim that the employment enforcement tactics used by the federal government are based on racial profiling rather than the actual immigration violation.
The ICE activities began amid heightened tensions following the deployment of National Guard and Marine units to Los Angeles by former President Donald Trump. This action was intended to appease widespread protest movements. That too has occurred in a political climate of rising suspicion and fear toward suspected undocumented immigrants across the region. California leaders have jumped at the opportunity. They are suing not simply over the fact that forces were deployed, but as an active harm in worsening the situation.
Now, the DHS wants us to believe that ICE operations are not racially discriminatory and don’t target people because of their appearance. As described by witnesses, it has been a different tale. Countless residents have spoken in opposition due to what they see as a disproportionate focus on targeting Hispanic folks. A video that surfaced from Montebello showed armed ICE agents conducting searches, prompting fears among the community regarding their safety and civil rights.
In at least one well-known instance, heavily armed border patrol agents illegally detained Jason Brian Gavidia, an American citizen. They shamed him for his origins. Gavidia insisted on his identity, stating emphatically, “I’m American! … I’ll show you my ID. I was born here.” His detention has raised alarms about the nature of ICE’s operations, leading many to question whether due process is being respected.
Witnesses at the Santa Fe Springs swap meet told media that it looked like a military raid. With little warning, dozens of heavily armed and masked officers stormed the community, conducting mass roundups of people they thought to be undocumented immigrants. The raids have so far reportedly picked up day laborers outside Home Depot, car washers, warehouse workers, and people hanging out outside churches.
Melendez, a long-time local community advocate, could hardly contain his anger at what had unfolded to this day. He stated, “This is racial profiling. They’re stopping folks because of the way they look.” In particular, he underscored the psychological impact faced by his community. Residents live in terror of simply making it to work or school as a result of ICE’s violent and often indiscriminate raids.
“Ice agents are terrorizing our community. They are taking actions and asking questions later. There is absolutely no due process.” – Melendez
As the raids picked up, the financial pressure made worse by ICE’s raids clearly began taking a toll. Koreatown street vendors received thousands of dollars in losses from the raids earlier this month. In response, local residents have been working to raise money for the families affected. Over $50,000 has been collected to support those out of work as a result of these aggressive immigration enforcement actions.
This critical moment has inspired many community members to urge awareness and unity across neighborhoods. Melendez urged locals to look out for one another: “Folks have to stay vigilant. We have to look out for one another. If you see something, alert your neighbors.”
ICE—after getting some blowback on this, to put it mildly—became concerned and sent Tricia McLaughlin, a high-ranking rep from DHS, to walk back ICE’s statements. She stated, “What makes someone a target is if they are in the United States illegally.” Yet for most residents in the impacted community, these explanations hardly help ease the tension or fear that has been created.