Jesus Cruz, a long-time employee at a luxury car wash in Los Angeles, was arrested during a sudden raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The incident occurred on June 8 near LA International Airport. Cruz, who has lived in the United States for more than 30 years and worked at the Westchester Handwash car wash for over a decade, has no criminal history.
The raid was swift, lasting less than a minute, with agents handcuffing employees without initial identification, according to Mehmet Ayodogan, the car wash operator. “They have done nothing wrong. Everyone was working diligently,” Ayodogan said, describing the scene. CCTV footage showed employees fleeing upon the agents’ arrival.
Cruz’s wife lost contact with him shortly after his arrest and only discovered his whereabouts days later – he was being held in an immigrant detention facility in El Paso, Texas. This incident is part of a broader immigration crackdown across Los Angeles, reflecting the Trump administration’s expanded enforcement policies.
The crackdown has targeted various workplaces, including those supporting the U.S. economy like car washes and factories. The administration aims to significantly increase daily arrests from 660 to 3,000, affecting many long-term residents like Cruz who have been living and working in the U.S. without major incidents.
