[By Guancha Observer Network, Liu Chenghui]
After the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies launched a tough raid operation on illegal immigrants starting June 6th, protesters held demonstrations for two consecutive days in Los Angeles. It was reported that over 1000 people surrounded and attacked a federal building, leading to clashes with police. As of July 7th, 45 people have been arrested.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller (Stephen Miller) condemned these gatherings as "insurrection" against the United States.
According to reports from Reuters and CBS, on June 7th, federal law enforcement personnel continued to face tense confrontations with protesters in Paramonte, an area southeast of Los Angeles. Some protesters waved Mexican flags, while others wore respirator masks to cover their mouths and noses.
On June 7th, in Los Angeles, protesters threw incendiary devices at police vehicles. Reuters
ICE enforcement vehicles were spray-painted with slogans. Social media
Demonstrators pushed shopping carts to block the path of enforcement officers. Reuters
Video footage shows dozens of security personnel in green uniforms wearing gas masks lined up on the road. There are overturned shopping carts scattered around, small explosive gas cylinders, and thick smoke everywhere.
The first wave of protests erupted the previous evening after ICE enforcement officers conducted operations in Los Angeles and arrested more than 40 people on suspicion of violating immigration laws.
In a statement on July 7th, Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons (Todd Lyons) said that more than 1000 "rioters" surrounded and attacked a federal building. "If these violent rioters harm federal officials, they will be held accountable. There is no doubt that ICE will continue to enforce the nation's immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal immigrants."
However, Reuters could not verify Lyons' statement.
On June 6th, in Los Angeles, protesters engaged in intense confrontations with police on the streets. Video screenshot
According to the statement issued by ICE, 44 protesters were administratively arrested, and one person was arrested for obstructing official duties. This arrest action triggered large-scale tense protests across the city.
Miller, who holds a hardline stance on immigration, posted on X platform that the demonstration on June 6th was "an insurrection against American laws and sovereignty."
On June 6th, demonstrators gathered outside the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center to protest against ICE's raid operation. Police used anti-explosion weapons to disperse the demonstrators. Visual China
Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI Dan Bongino (Dan Bongino) also posted on social media saying that the FBI is working with the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure that violators during the protest are brought to justice. "The right to gather and protest does not include attacking law enforcement officers or obstructing and impeding our legitimate immigration actions."
On June 6th, during a raid operation about three kilometers away from the Los Angeles City Hall, protesters threw eggs at the enforcement officers and shouted insults loudly, chasing the ICE convoy. The enforcement officers then used flash grenades to disperse the crowd.
Protesters obstructed ICE enforcement actions. Video screenshot
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (Karen Bass) strongly condemned the federal authorities' raid operation, believing it caused great panic within the community. She said that immigrants have made many contributions to Los Angeles, and the actions of law enforcement officers "spread fear in our communities and undermine the basic safety principles of our city."
All 15 members of the Los Angeles City Council jointly issued a statement condemning the actions of federal immigration agencies as "unacceptable escalation."
American White House border affairs director Homan said on July 7th that the Trump administration would deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles that night to respond to protests against ICE.
Homan stated that federal agencies had recently arrested illegal immigrants for national security reasons. "Tonight we will send the National Guard to handle this matter and continue to fulfill our responsibilities. We will deport these people and enforce the law strictly."
According to immigration lawyers and family members, many undocumented immigrants who went to the Los Angeles Federal Building this week to report to ICE as usual were detained. Several people were taken to the basement of the building, and some were held overnight.
It is currently unclear how many people were affected, but lawyers told CBS that hundreds of immigrants were detained, and dozens were held in rooms that could only accommodate up to 30 people each.
Immigration lawyer Lizbeth Mateo (Lizbeth Mateo) said that ICE officials arranged for several of her clients to report to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, but when they arrived on the 3rd, they were immediately detained and sent to the basement.
On June 6th, Los Angeles Police Department cleared the streets and checked an unconscious man. Visual China
Mateo described how a couple with two children (one of whom is an American citizen) spent the night in a room without beds and limited food supplies. She emphasized that the father had previously received a deferred deportation order and was legally not allowed to be deported, yet the entire family was still detained. Due to the high-risk pregnancy of his wife requiring urgent treatment, she and the two children were released on the evening of the 4th, while the husband remained in custody as of the morning of the 6th.
"This situation is unheard of," Mateo said. "I handled many difficult cases during Trump's first term, but I have never encountered such incidents. By normal standards, he should have been released."
Immigration lawyers expressed confusion about why people were being held in the basement.
"They are essentially placing these immigrants in a temporary detention center, which is clearly illegal on the surface," Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), said. "This is extremely inhumane treatment for any immigrant, especially in this case involving families."
An ICE spokesperson issued a statement on June 6th: "Strongly refuting the accusations made by Los Angeles immigration activists. ICE strictly adheres to legal authority and treats detainees with dignity. Spreading false narratives undermines the safety of law enforcement officers and the community and distorts our mission to protect the border and public safety."
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE's parent department, also issued a separate statement the same day, stating that those arrested "hold enforceable final deportation orders issued by immigration judges and have not complied with these orders. If you are illegally residing in the United States and a judge has ordered your deportation, this is the treatment you will receive. During the Biden administration, thousands of illegal foreigners with final deportation orders (including violent criminals) were placed under 'Alternative to Detention' (ATD) measures and allowed to wander freely in our communities. This should not have happened. Thanks to the leadership of Secretary Mayorkas and President Trump, we are restoring proper policies."
On June 6th, Los Angeles police detained anti-ICE protesters. Reuters
Census data shows that a large portion of Los Angeles' population is of Latino descent or foreign-born. Reuters described that this round of protests highlights the conflict between the Democratic-led Los Angeles and the Republican administration led by Trump. The Trump administration has made cracking down on immigration one of its core policies in its second term, but this large-scale immigration crackdown involves legal residents, including some with permanent residency, and has raised legal questions.
CBS obtained internal government data showing that during Trump's second term, ICE arrested more than 100,000 people this week. Federal agents intensified efforts to detain illegal immigrants in courts, workplaces, and communities across the country.
Federal statistics show that ICE recorded over 2,000 arrests on both June 3rd and 4th, significantly higher compared to the agency's average daily arrests of 660 during the first 100 days of Trump's return to the White House. This is 450% higher than the average during the last year of former President Biden's administration.
The latest data shows that ICE is nearing the requirements set by senior officials like Miller. Miller is an immigration hardliner who has strongly promoted the agency's goal of arresting at least 3,000 people per day.
"The Trump administration, DHS, and ICE have acted too hastily," Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), asserted. "They may not have planned this properly, and they lack the capacity to continue conducting these large-scale deportation actions."
Shelley Martin, a political science professor at San Diego University and an expert on the U.S.-Mexico border, said: "This is not normal. It is a reaction to a long-standing problem, but the issue has been greatly exaggerated to convey a sense of shock and awe."
This article is an exclusive piece by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7513390035127992847/
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