Dozens of Protesters Arrested Following Widespread Raids, Demonstrations

A day-long series of immigration enforcement actions across downtown Los Angeles drew widespread condemnation Saturday and prompted a spur-of-the-moment demonstration that ended with nearly four dozen arrests following clashes with federal agents.

“As Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, I am outraged by what has taken place and I’m appalled at the chaos that has ensued,” Mayor Karen Bass said. “These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. It makes people fearful to attend school, workplaces, houses of worship, community spaces and so much more.”

Bass said she had met with families impacted by the raids and vowed that “LA will always stand with them and stand for what is right.”

The mayor said she plans to hold a meeting Monday with local immigrant-rights organizations to discuss the raids.

Congresswoman Linda T. Sanchez said some immigrants who were detained were attending routine check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles when they were detained.

“This is yet another cruel and deliberate act by the Trump administration in its ongoing campaign to dehumanize immigrants,” she said. “Detaining individuals, some U.S. citizens, for appearing at their immigration hearings — doing exactly what the system demands of them — is a betrayal of justice.

“Immigrants are constantly told: `Follow the rules, do things the right way and you’ll be given an opportunity.’ But now, families who are following the rules are being ambushed, handcuffed and locked away in the basement of a federal building. They’re not being punished for breaking the law, but for trusting it. These inhumane actions by ICE upend our centuries-old due process protections and destroy the integrity of our immigration system.”

The Service Employees International Union California issued a statement saying the union’s president, David Huerta, was “injured and detained” during the raids.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, said Huerta was arrested at downtown’s Roybal Federal Building.

“Huerta was Tased and brutalized for attempting to visit his union members — asylum applicants going through the immigration process legally who have been unjustly, indefinitely detained and are being held in inhumane conditions,” Kamlager-Dove said.

Los Angeles County Supervisor said Janice Hahn said Huerta had been “injured by federal agents and wrongfully detained.

“I am calling for his immediate release. This is a democracy. People have a right to peacefully protest, to observe law enforcement activity, and to speak out against injustice,” Hahn wrote on her Twitter account.

“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.”

Huerta later issued a statement while still being treat an area hospital.

“What happened to me is not about me; this is about something much bigger,” he said. “This is about how we as a community stand together and resist the injustice that’s happening. Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice.”

Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said the “federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle. He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday. Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are — if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.”

The raids began Friday morning as agents from what appeared to be multiple federal law enforcement agencies could be seen escorting men in handcuffs into vehicles outside a Home Depot at 1675 Wilshire Blvd. in the Westlake District.

“ICE officers and agents alongside partner law enforcement agencies, executed four federal search warrants at three locations in central Los Angeles,” Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe of the Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said later in a statement to CBS2. “Approximately 44 people were administratively arrested [with] one arrest for obstruction.”

The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement saying it was not involved in any immigration enforcement operation in the area, following a policy in effect since 1979. It did respond to an assault with a deadly weapon report in Westlake at about 9 a.m. Friday, but quickly cleared the scene after finding no evidence.

Later Friday morning, another raid took place at an Ambiance clothing store on Towne Avenue in the Fashion District near downtown. 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 cellphones. Several people wearing FBI vests were seen standing by outside the store.

Several hours after the raids began, what appeared to be at least two dozen people were led out of a Fashion District building in handcuffs and loaded into white vans and driven away, escorted by federal law enforcement personnel 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 South Los Angeles area. One person wearing a Drug Enforcement Administration vest was seen at that location.

People often gather at stores such as Home Depot and Ambiance looking for temporary work, and agents may have taken the opportunity to confront them in accordance with President Donald Trump’s unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration. He has vowed to wage the most extensive deportation effort in U.S. history.

In response to a query from City News Service, 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.”

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Ambiance warehouse and at one point federal agents shoved 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.

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.

LAPD officers also could be seen establishing a skirmish line at the location due to the number of protesters gathered in the area.

There were also reports of additional raids being carried out Friday in areas such as Pico-Union and Cypress Park.

Angélica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for 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.

She characterized the raids as “random sweeps” conducted without warrants, and those arrested were simply racially profiled. “Our community is under attack and has been terrorized,” Salas told the crowd of protesters, according to the Times. “These are workers, these are fathers, these are mothers.”

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said his officers had nothing to do with the raids.

“… 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. 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.

“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 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 calls for service,” Luna said. “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.

“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.”

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has not commented on what it is doing.

Homeland Security Investigations spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe told the Los Angeles Times that search warrants were served regarding illegal immigrants and anyone harboring them.

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.”

“My team and I have been in contact with community members and rapid response organizers since early this morning in my district,” Hernandez said. “… L.A. is a sanctuary city, and we’ve made it clear that we will not cooperate [or] 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.”

She urged residents to be prepared and know their rights if they are contacted by law enforcement or federal agents.

“This is not new, and we cannot act like they are not going to kidnap and take our people from our neighborhoods because they’re actively doing it,” Hernandez said. “So, please plug in with your communities. Please educate yourselves.”

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. “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.”

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the federal building in downtown Los Angeles Friday evening and began a march through the area to denounce the raids.

During the demonstration, a Metropolitan Detention Center was sprayed with graffiti by protesters.

Video from outside the center, taken by Anthony Cabassa, who describes himself as an “independent journalist,” showed a protester clad in all-black and wearing a mask over his mouth using a hammer on a cement block.

Pictures of graffiti on and near the jail taken by Cabassa included the phrases, “Death to Amerikka” and “Dead Cops.”

California Highway Patrol vehicles blocked the Alameda Street on-ramp to the Hollywood (101) Freeway adjacent to the Federal Detention Center in an attempt to keep protesters from walking onto the freeway, according to broadcast reports.

Around 7 p.m. Friday, the LAPD declared an unlawful assembly on Alameda Street between Aliso and Temple streets, warning that individuals who remain in the area were subject to arrest. Alameda Street was closed between Temple and Commercial streets, police said.

Two hours later, the department issued a citywide tactical alert, requiring all officers to remain on duty after their shifts end due to the protests in downtown Los Angeles.

A small group of individuals threw “large pieces of concrete” in the area near the Metropolitan Detention Center, according to the LAPD. The use of less lethal munitions was authorized by the incident commander, the LAPD reported.

Around 11:30 p.m. Friday, a large group of federal agents set up a staging site in a parking lot on the 700 block of North Hill Street in Chinatown, KTLA 5 reported.