The migratory raids extended this Saturday for the second consecutive day in Los Angeles. The federal agents broke into factories and shops, protected with tactical equipment and long weapons. The scene was repeated in Paramount, south of the city, where dozens of ICE and CBP agents raided a company and arrested, according to activists, At least 65 workers.
The reaction was immediate. Hundreds of protesters surrounded the accesses and tried to prevent the exit of federal vehicles. For more than two hours, the agents repelled the protest with tear gas and transferred the detainees in trucks without badges. The day left new arrests among protesters and scenes even more tense than those registered on Friday, when seven raids were denounced in workplaces, supermarkets and neighborhood stores.
In parallel, the federal authorities denied the entry of lawyers and congressmen to the ICE detention center of Los Angeles. “They told us that for security reasons we could not enter,” said congressman Jimmy Gómez, who warned about “Very disturbing” reports of overcrowding, lack of food and water, and migrants locked up for more than 24 hours to the dark. “They are not criminals, as the executive intends,” he said.
Civil rights organizations accuse ICE of deploying operations on weekends to hinder legal access and accelerate deportations. “We defend our community at the time,” said Ron Góchez, from the neighborhood of the neighborhood. From Chirla, its spokesman Jorge Mario Cabrera denounced that the Trump administration seeks with these raids demobilize the opposition to a bill that would injected billions to migratory agencies.
From the government, the White House responded to blaming the Democratic leaders of California. Tricia McLaughlin, Undersecretary of the Department of National Security, accused protesters of assaulting agents, clicking tires and damaging federal property. “Mayor Karen Bass must demand the end of this violence“He said.
Hegesh threatens to deploy Marines
The Secretary of Defense of the United States, Pete Hegseth, has warned that he could order the deployment of troops from the country’s army’s body to stop protests in California against the interventions of the agents of the immigration control and customs service against irregular migration. “These violent attacks seek to prevent the expulsion of illegal immigrants and are a threat to national security”he wrote in his X account.
The deployment of the National Guard is already underway, but Hegesh warned that the Marines are on maximum alert. However, the Los Angeles police reduced the tone and said that the second night of protests was “mostly peaceful” in the city, although he recognized tension sources in Paramount and Compton. “We are still prepared to respond to any incident,” they said.
The reaction of the governor of California
Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the order to deploy the National Guard as a deliberate provocation of the Trump administration. “It will only serve to intensify tensions “he wrote in X.
“They are in the wrong mission and they will erode public confidence,” Newsom has settled before directing a few words to Hegseth’s threat: “Marines in active duty on American land against their own citizens. This is a disturbed behavior. “
