ICE raids LA: Protests break out after dozens taken into custody by federal agents

LOS ANGELES - As immigration crackdowns continue across Southern California and the nation, dozens were taken into custody as several raids took place in Los Angeles County on Friday. 

The raids prompted mass protests in downtown LA as people expressed their frustration with ICE. However, the protests eventually turned violent, with the LAPD later declaring an unlawful assembly. 

Below is a breakdown of the raids and protests that occurred Friday, June 6. 

Raids in Westlake, downtown LA

What we know:

Homeland Security agents were seen detaining multiple people outside a Home Depot in the 1670 block of Wilshire Boulevard, between Burlington and S. Union avenues. 

SkyFOX flew over the scene in Westlake around 10:20 a.m. and showed witnesses outside the home improvement store being interviewed by local media outlets. 

Los Angeles police said they were not involved in any immigration enforcement operation in the area, but did respond to an assault with a deadly weapon report in the Westlake District about 9 a.m., but quickly cleared the scene after finding no evidence of an assault.

At some point, DHS agents became involved. 

Late Friday morning, another raid took place at an Ambiance clothing store along Towne Avenue in the Fashion District near downtown Los Angeles. A crowd of people and some protesters gathered outside the store as the operation was being carried out, with many taking photos or videos with cell phones. Several people wearing FBI vests were seen standing outside the store. 

The Service Employees International Union California issued a statement saying the union's president, David Huerta, was "injured and detained" during one of the raids. US Attorney Bill Essayli said Huerta was deliberately blocking access to agents. 

"Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle. He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday. Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are—if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties," Essayli wrote on X. 

Dozens taken into custody

Several hours after the raid began, what appeared to be at least two dozen people were led out of the Fashion District building in handcuffs and loaded into white vans and driven away, escorted by troops in tactical gear.

Early Friday afternoon, a throng of federal agents amassed at what appeared to be an Ambiance clothing warehouse or corporate headquarters building near 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue in the South Los Angeles area. One person wearing a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) vest was seen at that location. Dozens of protesters also gathered at this location.

LAPD officers responded to a report from "another agency" of a man with a knife in the 2400 block of East 15th Street — the location of the Ambiance warehouse — around 12:25 p.m., but no arrests were made there. LAPD officers also established a skirmish line at the location due to the number of protesters.

Essayli said federal agents were serving a search warrant in LA's Fashion District for alleged fictitious employee documents. He said there's reason to believe an employer was using fictitious documents for some of its workers.

The FBI confirmed multiple arrests, but it's unclear if they were due to immigration status or from criminal activity committed during the protest. 

Community groups denounce raids 

Community groups such as LA Rapid Response Network, CHIRLA, CARECEN, SEIU and more held a press conference in the evening denouncing the raids. 

"None of the operations we have reported on have any warrant or any people’s names on it, with the name of the business. They were random sweeps, and they were picking up our community in random sweeps. They were racially profiling our community. I want every elected official in this country to know being brown, being black, being Asian, looking like an immigrant does not make you a criminal. We are human beings; we have families," said Angelica Salas of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights. 

She said there were at least seven raids at various locations across the region Friday, many of them at workplaces, including a doughnut shop. She added that 45 people were detained in the various operations. Law enforcement has not officially commented on the number of arrests made. 

Protests erupt in downtown 

By 5 p.m. Friday, hundreds of people gathered in downtown LA to protest the raids. Large crowds walked through the area holding signs and chanting.

Around 6:15 p.m., several people attempted to break into the Roybal Federal building. Several officers were stationed at the entrance of one of the gates, barring people from getting in. Protesters were seen spray-painting profanity on the building and nearby trash cans. Officers inside the parking lot used tear gas to push the crowd away. 

Around 7 p.m., the LAPD declared an unlawful assembly on Alameda between Aliso and Temple. They advised everyone in the area to leave or face arrest. 

Video from SkyFOX showed dozens of officers in riot gear as they made a skirmish line and tried to move the crowd away from the federal building. 

Around 7 p.m., LAPD declared unlawful assembly on Alameda between Aliso and Temple. Police said a small group of people became violent and were throwing large pieces of concrete. 

Around 8:20 p.m., a City Wide Tactical Alert was issued, requesting all officers to remain on duty.  

Video from the scene showed protesters clashing with officers as tear gas and pepper spray were used, and trash bins were pushed toward officers. The words "F*** ICE" were spray-painted on concrete walls, barriers, trash bins, and other places.  

Video also showed protesters using hammers to break concrete columns. LAPD officials said a small group of people became violent and were throwing large pieces of concrete. 

Statements from federal and local law enforcement

What they're saying:

"The FBI is supporting our partners at the Department of Homeland Security in their immigration operations all over the country, as directed by the Attorney General. The FBI is accustomed to providing investigative and technical assistance to our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners on a regular basis," the FBI said in a statement. 

"As we have been asked to do, we are sending Agents to participate in these immigration enforcement efforts. That includes assisting in cities where major operations are already underway and where we have special agents embedded on operational teams with DHS.  Our help may vary depending on what DHS needs, such as SWAT operators, who can support high risk arrest operations, and other resources such as intelligence analysts and technical support working from command posts."

The other side:

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell issued a statement Friday afternoon: "Today, the LAPD became aware that ICE was conducting operations in the city of Los Angeles. I'm aware that these actions cause anxiety for many Angelenos, so I want to make it clear: the LAPD is not involved in civil immigration enforcement. While the LAPD will continue to have a visible presence in all our communities to ensure public safety, we will not assist or participate in any sort of mass deportations, nor will the LAPD try to determine an individual's immigration status. Since 1979, our policy has barred officers from initiating police action solely to determine a person's immigration status. The department remains focused on critical issues like crime reduction, enhancing public safety, and improving the quality of life for all Angelenos. I want everyone, including our immigrant community, to feel safe calling the police in their time of need and know that the LAPD will be there for you without regard to one's immigration status."

At the end of Friday's Los Angeles City Council meeting, Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez said her office had received reports throughout the morning "about swift and aggressive immigration raids and enforcement." Hernandez added, "My team and I have been in contact with community members and rapid response organizers since early this morning in my district. ... L.A. is a sanctuary city, and we've made it clear that we will not cooperate and use our resources for ICE and federal immigration enforcement, but that doesn't stop them from showing up. Now we're seeing their tactics quickly escalate. They're swooping in fast, without warning and leaving just as quickly. They don't hang around because they know we mobilize. Our resistance is working, and that's exactly why they have elevated their approach and changed their approach, colleagues." She urged residents to be prepared and know their rights, stating, "This is not new, and we cannot act like they are not going to kidnap and take our people from our neighborhood because they're actively doing it. So, please plug in with your communities. Please educate yourselves."

LA Mayor Karen Bass also released a statement Friday, saying she was "deeply angered by what has taken place."

"These tactics sow terror in our communities and distrust basic principles of safety in our city. My Office is in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations. We will not stand for this," her statement read in part. 

Timeline of events 

Timeline:

Approx. 9 a.m. Friday: LAPD responded to an assault with a deadly weapon report in the Westlake District, but quickly cleared the scene after finding no evidence. Federal agents were simultaneously conducting operations in the area.

Approx. 10:20 a.m. Friday: SkyFOX flew over the Home Depot scene in Westlake, showing agents detaining people and witnesses being interviewed.

Later Friday morning: A raid took place at an Ambiance clothing store along Towne Avenue in the Fashion District near downtown Los Angeles. 

Early Friday afternoon: Federal agents amassed at an Ambiance clothing warehouse or corporate headquarters building near 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue in South Los Angeles. 

Approx. 12:25 p.m. Friday: LAPD officers responded to a report from "another agency" regarding a man with a knife in the 2400 block of East 15th Street, but no arrests were made. 

Friday afternoon: LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell issued a statement in response to the raids. 

Approx. 6 p.m.: Throughout the day, protesters continued to gather in downtown LA. Protests started becoming violent around 6:15 p.m. as people attempted to break into the Roybal Federal building. 

Approx. 7 p.m.: LAPD declared unlawful assembly on Alameda between Aliso and Temple. Those who remain would be subject to arrest.

Approx. 8 p.m.: LAPD said a small group of people became violent and were throwing large pieces of concrete. 

Approx. 8:20 p.m.: LAPD issued a City Wide Tactical Alert.

Approx. 9:30 p.m.: The majority of the crowd had dispersed, and video showed only a few dozen people left. 

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Immigration crackdown across the US

Big picture view:

These reported detentions in LA align with a broader federal effort to significantly escalate immigration arrests nationwide. Internal government data shows ICE arrests during President Donald Trump's second term have already surpassed 100,000 this week, including over 2,000 arrests on both Tuesday and Wednesday. This marks a dramatic increase from the daily average of approximately 660 arrests during the first 100 days of the Trump administration.

These numbers reportedly move closer to the stated goal of top administration officials, such as White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who has pushed for ICE to conduct "a minimum" of 3,000 arrests each day. 

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