Early Thursday morning, federal immigration agents conducted a sweeping raid across Los Angeles, detaining dozens of individuals in what has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing debate over US immigration policy.
Witnesses reported armed officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entering homes and businesses in predominantly Latino neighbourhoods before sunrise, sparking panic among residents.
Community in Shock
Local advocacy groups say at least 40 people were taken into custody during the operation, though ICE has yet to confirm exact numbers. "Families were torn apart this morning," said Maria Gonzalez of the Coalition for Immigrant Rights. "Children woke up to find their parents gone."
Official Response
Mayor Karen Bass condemned the raids, calling them "cruel and unnecessary." In a statement, she vowed to "use every tool at our disposal" to support affected families. Meanwhile, ICE maintains the operation targeted "individuals with final deportation orders," though activists dispute this claim.
Legal Challenges Ahead
Civil rights attorneys are preparing emergency motions to challenge the detentions. "Many of these arrests appear to violate due process," explained constitutional lawyer David Rivera. "We're seeing cases where people had pending appeals or no criminal record whatsoever."
The raid comes amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement policies, with the Biden administration facing pressure from both sides of the political spectrum.
