ICE Raid at Los Angeles Car Wash Sparks Chaos
In a dramatic turn of events, US immigration agents raided a car wash in Los Angeles on a quiet Sunday afternoon, sparking instant chaos among customers and employees. The Westchester Hand Wash, located in a busy shopping area just blocks from the city’s airport, was the scene of the operation, which was captured on CCTV footage obtained by the BBC.
The agents, dressed in olive-green uniforms, approached the car wash, causing some customers to freeze and employees to scatter. Two workers ducked behind a luxury SUV they were cleaning, while another jumped over a nearby fence as agents chased after them on foot and in pick-up trucks.
The raid was part of a larger operation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to round up and deport undocumented migrants. Jesús Cruz, who has worked at the car wash for over a decade and lived in the US for more than 30 years, was among the six men arrested during the two-day operation.
Cruz’s wife, Noemi Ciau, told the BBC that she was shopping with her daughter when she saw a social media post about a possible raid at the car wash. She rushed to the scene but arrived too late to see her husband. ‘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 raid was one of several conducted by ICE across Los Angeles, with reports of similar operations at a clothing wholesale business in the Fashion District. The actions have sparked widespread protests and outrage, with hundreds arrested and an overnight curfew enforced in one area.
The Trump administration has stepped up its immigration crackdown, with targets widening to include not just criminals but also workplaces such as farms and factories. ‘Just go out there and arrest illegal aliens,’ Stephen Miller, a top White House adviser, reportedly told ICE officials before the recent LA raids.
As the situation continues to unfold, immigration attorney Karla Navarrete said the mass arrests have overwhelmed the system, with databases not being updated and families struggling to locate their loved ones. Noemi Ciau learned that her husband was being held at a detention centre in El Paso, Texas, over 800 miles from their home.
The community is gripped with fear and uncertainty, with many wondering when and where immigration officers will strike next. The city’s Mayor, Karen Bass, expressed her concerns, saying, ‘I can’t emphasise enough the level of fear and terror that is in Angelenos right now.’
As the protests continue and the immigration debate rages on, one thing is clear: the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented migrants has left a trail of disruption and anxiety in its wake.
