ICE launches ‘military-style’ raids in Los Angeles: What we know

Los Angeles witnessed a bid of coordinated migration raids by United States instrumentality enforcement officials connected Friday, resulting successful the apprehension of dozens and igniting wide protests.

The raids, which were carried retired successful a military-style operation, person intensified concerns astir the unit utilized by national migration officials and the rights of undocumented individuals.

Here is what we cognize astir the raids and the latest connected the ground.

What happened successful LA?

Federal agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted a bid of “immigration enforcement operations” crossed Los Angeles connected Friday morning.

Individuals suspected of “immigration violations and the usage of fraudulent documents” were arrested. The arrests were carried retired without judicial warrants, according to aggregate ineligible observers and confirmed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which did not instrumentality portion successful the raids, was called successful to quell ensuing protests.

The raids were portion of a broader inaugural nether the Trump administration’s intensified migration policies.

Which areas were raided?

The raids focused connected respective locations successful downtown LA and its contiguous surroundings. These spots are known to person significant migrant populations and labour-intensive industries.

Angelica Salas, enforcement manager of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), which covers California, said advocates had recorded enforcement enactment astatine 7 sites. This included 2 Home Depot stores successful the Westlake District of Los Angeles, a doughnut store and the covering wholesaler, Ambiance Apparel successful the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles.

Other locations successful which raids were carried retired included time labour centres and 1 different Ambiance installation adjacent 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue successful southbound Los Angeles.

How galore radical person been arrested?

ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) reported the “administrative arrest” of 44 individuals for immigration-related offences.

An administrative arrest, dissimilar a transgression arrest, refers to detention for civilian migration violations specified arsenic overstaying a visa oregon lacking ineligible status, and does not necessitate transgression charges. These arrests tin effect successful detention, deportation, impermanent re-entry bans and denial of aboriginal migration requests.

Advocates judge the fig of arrests made was higher, however. Caleb Soto, of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, told Al Jazeera that betwixt 70 and 80 radical had been detained, but lone 3 lawyers person been allowed entree to the detention centre wherever they were being held to supply ineligible advice.

Additionally, David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, was arrested for allegedly obstructing national agents during the raids. Huerta was reportedly injured during the apprehension and received aesculapian attraction astatine Los Angeles General Medical Center earlier being taken into custody.

A protester attempts to evade a Department of Homeland Security serviceman [Jae C Hong/AP Photo]

What kinds of raids were these?

What sets these raids isolated from emblematic civilian enforcement actions was their military-style execution, experts say.

According to witnesses, ineligible observers and advocacy groups, national agents progressive successful the operations were heavy equipped and dressed successful tactical gear, with immoderate wearing camouflage and carrying rifles.

Agents arrived successful unmarked achromatic SUVs and armoured vehicles and, astatine definite points, sealed disconnected full streets astir targeted buildings. Drones were reportedly utilized for surveillance successful immoderate areas and entree to sites was blocked disconnected with yellowish tape, akin to measures which would beryllium taken during a high-threat counterterrorism oregon cause bust operation.

The ACLU described the amusement of unit arsenic an “oppressive and vile paramilitary operation”. Civil liberties groups said the tactics utilized had created panic successful section communities and whitethorn person violated protocols for civilian migration enforcement.

How did protests interruption out?

As quality of the raids dispersed via societal media and done migrant advocacy networks, hundreds of protesters gathered extracurricular the Edward R Roybal Federal Building successful downtown Los Angeles, wherever detainees were being processed.

Demonstrators blocked entrances and exits to the building, chanted slogans and demanded the merchandise of those arrested. Some spray-painted anti-ICE slogans connected the building’s exterior walls. Several protesters attempted to physically halt ICE vehicles, starring to confrontations with instrumentality enforcement.

LAPD officers issued dispersal orders and warned protesters that they would beryllium taxable to apprehension if they remained successful the area. To enforce the order, officers successful riot cogwheel deployed teardrop gas, capsicum spray and “less-lethal munitions”, including firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. A citywide tactical alert was besides issued, requiring each LAPD officers to stay connected duty.

What’s happening now?

Shortly aft 7pm connected Friday [02:00 GMT Saturday], the LAPD declared the protests to beryllium an “unlawful assembly”, meaning that those who failed to permission the country could beryllium taxable to arrest. The declaration appeared to stay successful effect until the assemblage dispersed aboriginal that evening, though nary ceremonial extremity clip was publically announced.

US media outlets and rights groups reported that hundreds of detainees, including children, were held overnight successful the basement of the national gathering without entree to beds, blankets oregon capable nutrient and water.

However, an ICE spokesperson told CBS News that the bureau “categorically refutes the assertions made by migration activists successful Los Angeles”, stating that it takes its mandate to attraction for radical successful custody “seriously”.

The presumption of each individuals detained remains unclear. While immoderate person been released, others proceed to beryllium held and details astir their existent locations oregon conditions person not been afloat disclosed.

What are the reactions to the raids?

Local and authorities officials condemned the raids and the mode successful which they were conducted.

In a connection shared connected X connected Friday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said specified operations “sow panic successful our communities and disrupt basal principles of information successful our city”.

We volition not basal for this. pic.twitter.com/Ug1CN4JKOz

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) June 6, 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement describing the operations arsenic “cruel” and “chaotic”, adding that they are an effort “to conscionable an arbitrary apprehension quota”.

All 15 members of the Los Angeles City Council issued a associated connection denouncing the raids.

Some Trump medication officials, connected the different hand, defended the actions and criticised section leaders for pushing back. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, for instance, suggested that Mayor Karen Bass was undermining national law.

You person nary accidental successful this astatine all. Federal instrumentality is ultimate and national instrumentality volition beryllium enforced. https://t.co/N53UBl3UM4

— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) June 6, 2025