Los Angeles Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez’s office issued a warning to constituents on Monday morning regarding the sudden deployment of federal forces in their neighborhood. The operation, which involved dozens of federal officers in tactical gear and approximately 90 California National Guard troops, took place primarily in MacArthur Park, a historic area known for its immigrant community.
The warning from Hernandez’s office urged residents to “Please be careful and let your neighbors know,” highlighting the urgency and concern surrounding the federal presence. This deployment lasted for less than an hour, but shocked viewers as they witnessed federal agents mounted on horseback and deployed in military-style armored vehicles. This show of force put residents on edge, most of whom came out fearful, enraged, and sickened by the display and the militarized response that they faced.
They condemned it as a “reality TV spectacle” and intimidation tactic aimed at the largely black community. Jeannette Zanipatin, a community activist, emphasized the psychological impact of such actions, stating, “I definitely think it’s a source of intimidation.”
Kids from a local daycare were hastily sent indoors as the feds swept through the neighborhood. This moment immediately transported me back to the horrifying memories of the Trump administration’s immigration raids. Those raids were particularly aimed at undocumented day laborers at area Home Depot stores and street vendors in dense commercial corridors.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has denounced the operation. She called it a racist display, which stereotyped the neighborhood as “under siege, under armed occupation.” Yet she countered that these measures did little to build trust and safety among residents, instead creating a culture of fear.
An unnamed defense official was asked about the huge military presence. They insisted that Monday’s operation was not a military action, despite it looking at all times overwhelmingly militaristic. “It’s just going to be more overt and larger than we usually participate in,” the official stated, acknowledging that the scale could contribute to public perception of militarization.
Activists and deep locals from the bay were on hand to witness it, ready to summon a legal defense team should the need arise. As unbelievable as it sounds, that was the reality described by Marqueece Harris-Dawson, then a city council member. He stated, “What I saw in the park today looked like a staging for a TikTok video,” reflecting the absurdity many feel about such heavy-handed tactics being employed in their community.
The deployment helped sound national alarm bells on the potential disastrous consequences of executing these types of operations in focused immigrant communities. Understandably, community leaders are concerned this may be an indication of a much deeper agenda of going back to aggressive enforcement tone and tactics of earlier administrations.