Los Angeles on Alert: Immigration Raids Rekindle Fear and Resistance

Los Angeles on Alert: Mass Raids Return

Communities Respond with Resistance

Fear and Anger Rise Again

Fear and anger have once again taken hold in Los Angeles after President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans to intensify immigration operations in the county.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court struck down a judicial order that had blocked raids based on criteria such as language, appearance, or workplace.

In a region where more than one-third of residents are immigrants and 55% of households speak a language other than English, the expectation of mass raids revives memories of last summer, when thousands were detained amid social tension.

Los Angeles Faces New Immigration Raids

Government Actions

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned on X that it will continue “flooding” Los Angeles and nearby areas with agents.

Gregory Bovino, of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), posted a photo of dozens of officers in front of the Hollywood sign with a direct message:

“This is the team. They’re the ones on the ground… We don’t stop. We don’t slow down. We keep going.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that between June and August more than 5,000 people were detained in the area, even under the temporary court restriction that had scaled down some operations.

ICE Operations That Sparked Outrage

Among the most controversial immigration raids was one where agents hid in a truck to lure day laborers in a Home Depot parking lot.

At least four similar operations have been reported there, sparking protests and allegations of abuse.

The Supreme Court’s green light to restart mass procedures is seen by civil rights organizations as both a setback and an endorsement of racial discrimination.

Social and Political Response

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) called for a virtual session to coordinate resistance to the new wave of raids in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston.

Mayor Karen Bass instructed city officials to strengthen protocols that bar the use of municipal resources in immigration enforcement.

The United Farm Workers (UFW) urged employers to implement protective measures. Elizabeth Strater, the union’s national vice president, stressed:

“Put up a barrier if necessary, a locked gate and an established protocol. If they don’t have a warrant, they cannot come in and terrorize.”

The Los Angeles Unified School District offered students the option to attend classes online to reduce risks.

Voices From the Community

Los Angeles on Alert: Immigration Raids Rekindle Fear and Resistance – PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Luis, a Central American immigrant, shared his feelings:

“It’s two things, there’s more fear but at the same time I feel more protected here in Los Angeles. That doesn’t mean I’m safe from being caught by ICE, but we’re more united and people warn and help.”

He recounted that his relatives are migrating from Georgia and South Carolina to California in search of a more supportive environment:

“I told them to come here because at least there’s more support,” he said while holding up a red card with his rights.

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What’s Next

On September 24, a hearing will be held for the lawsuit filed by immigrants, citizens, and human rights organizations, who argue that the raids violate the Constitution and discriminate against Latinos.

The tension in Los Angeles reflects the clash between federal policies and community resistance, in a scenario where unity and solidarity have become the main tools of protection for thousands of families.

Do you think the local support measures in Los Angeles are enough to protect immigrant communities from these raids?

SOURCE: EFE