Masked and armed federal agents launched large-scale immigration raids Friday in two of the nation’s most diverse cities, intensifying President Donald Trump’s aggressive crackdown on undocumented migrants.
In Los Angeles, agents conducted sweeping operations across multiple neighborhoods, detaining dozens of people. The raids, described by local officials as unprecedented in scale and tactics, included the use of flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds. One such incident occurred less than two miles from Los Angeles City Hall, where agents were met by protesters throwing eggs and shouting insults. Videos from the scene showed migrants being handcuffed and loaded into unmarked vehicles.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the raids, calling them “terror” and stating, “As the Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place. These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city.”
In response, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller tweeted that local officials have no say over federal law enforcement operations, emphasizing that “Federal law is supreme and federal law will be enforced.”
Among those briefly detained in Los Angeles was David Huerta, leader of the Service Employees International Union. Upon release, Huerta criticized the raids, saying, “Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals.”
Homeland Security Investigations stated the raids were related to search warrants focused on the harboring of undocumented individuals. As protests grew, hundreds marched through downtown Los Angeles demanding the release of detainees, with police in riot gear urging the crowd to disperse.
Meanwhile, across the country in New York City, federal agents in plainclothes arrested two migrants inside a courthouse. Witnesses described the agents ordering the men to the ground before handcuffing them. One detainee was identified by family as 34-year-old Joaquin Rosario from the Dominican Republic, who had arrived legally a year ago and was attending his first immigration hearing. Rosario reportedly did not expect to be arrested and had not brought legal counsel.
The other man appeared to be Asian and was accompanied by immigration volunteers at the time of his arrest. Despite protests from advocates present, the arrests proceeded.
Human rights groups condemned the raids, arguing they undermine trust in the immigration court system and deter migrants from attending legal appointments. Karen Ortiz, a court employee and demonstrator, called the actions “illegal abductions” and urged the public to raise awareness about the severity of the raids.
Since his re-election, President Trump has escalated enforcement efforts against undocumented immigrants, rolling back protections that previously limited agents’ access to sensitive locations like courthouses. The administration argues these measures are necessary to protect the country from criminals and illegal immigration, but critics say the tactics instill fear and disrupt immigrant communities.
