Southern California residents and community leaders testified at a congressional hearing in Los Angeles on Monday about the lasting trauma caused by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The hearing, organized by Democrats, focused on the impacts of ICE raids, including alleged civil rights abuses and the detention of US citizens.
Andrea Velez, a US citizen arrested by immigration officials, described being accosted by masked agents on her way to work. She was charged with assaulting an officer and held for two days in a federal detention centre, where detainees had to pay for a cup to have water. The charges were later dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia said it was critical to document and hold accountable those defying the constitution and violating civil rights. The White House reported over 150,000 arrests and nearly 140,000 deportations since Trump took office, with southern California a focal point for mass deportations.
Mayor Karen Bass called the raids an attack from the federal government, vowing to defend residents' rights. Garcia announced a new oversight dashboard to track verified incidents of misconduct during immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security accused Democrats of peddling lies, citing a 1,150% increase in assaults against officers.
