Immigration Raids in Los Angeles Spark Widespread Fear
In a shocking turn of events, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted surprise raids at several locations in Los Angeles, including a car wash and a clothing wholesale business. The operations, which took place on a quiet Sunday afternoon, left multiple workers arrested and the local community in a state of panic.
Surveillance footage obtained by the BBC shows the chaos that erupted when ICE agents, dressed in olive-green uniforms, descended upon the Westchester Hand Wash car wash. Customers froze in terror as employees attempted to flee the scene. Some workers ducked behind luxury vehicles they were cleaning, while others jumped over a nearby fence as agents chased after them on foot and in pickup trucks.
Jesús Cruz, a 10-year employee at the car wash, was among the six men arrested during the two-day operation. His wife, Noemi Ciau, told the BBC that she was shopping with her daughter when she saw a social media post warning of a possible raid. She rushed to the scene but arrived too late. “You are so used to having a partner there, just to help you out, to be the backbone… now it’s like – how am I going to do it?” she said, fighting back tears.
The raids represent a significant escalation in the White House’s strategy to round up and deport undocumented migrants. According to reports, top White House adviser Stephen Miller told ICE officials to widen their net and target workplaces such as farms and factories. The goal is to increase daily arrests from 660 to 3,000.
The car wash owner, Mehmet Aydogan, claimed that agents did not ask for IDs before handcuffing the workers and driving them away. “They were not doing anything criminal,” he said. “Everyone is hardworking.”
The raids have sparked widespread protests in Los Angeles, with demonstrators clashing with federal agents in the streets. The city’s Mayor, Karen Bass, has expressed concern about the level of fear and terror in the community. “I can’t emphasize enough the level of fear and terror that is in Angelenos right now,” she said.
As the situation continues to unfold, immigration attorney Karla Navarrete has reported that the mass arrests have overwhelmed the system. Databases are not being updated, and families are struggling to locate their loved ones. Noemi Ciau learned that her husband was being held at a detention center in El Paso, Texas, over 800 miles from their home.
The raids have also sparked a national response, with protests erupting in major cities across the US. California Governor Gavin Newsom has warned that other states will be targeted next. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the immigration debate has reached a boiling point in America.
