US immigration officials have initiated a new round of enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area, following recent efforts in cities like Chicago and New York. The operations aim to apprehend individuals unlawfully residing in the country.
Community activists shared videos on social media showing federal agents outside a residence in East Los Angeles. Activists advised residents not to open their doors unless presented with a judicial warrant signed by a judge. The presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials was observed for about 20 minutes before they departed.
It remains unclear how many individuals were detained during Sunday's operations, and ICE has been contacted for comment. Sources indicate that additional enforcement actions were planned for the Los Angeles area.
Approximately 150 activists from the Community Self Defense Coalition are monitoring the Los Angeles region throughout the day. ICE officers are reportedly receiving assistance from agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and US Customs and Border Protection.
Los Angeles is among several Democratic-led cities that have implemented sanctuary city policies to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This development comes as the region continues to recover from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires earlier this year.
Immigration Crackdown Across the Country
The recent surge in enforcement actions follows the removal of ICE's acting director, Caleb Vitello, due to concerns over a slowdown in immigration arrests. President Donald Trump, who appointed Vitello, has privately expressed dissatisfaction with deportation levels.
Since President Trump's inauguration, over 14,000 undocumented immigrants have been arrested as part of the administration's immigration crackdown. Various cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, Puerto Rico, Colorado, and Austin, have witnessed enhanced immigration enforcement actions.
ICE officials have emphasized the focus on targeting criminal migrants, with border czar Tom Homan highlighting a record low number of border encounters. Homan expressed determination to eradicate criminal migrants from the country.
Notably, a recent immigration sweep in New York City targeted suspected gang members, with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accompanying law enforcement on the operation.
