WESTLAKE, LOS ANGELES — Authorities reportedly apprehended several individuals after federal agents raided a Home Depot parking lot in the Westlake area of Los Angeles on Wednesday morning.
The immigration raid happened just before 7 a.m. outside the store on Wilshire Boulevard, according to witnesses who watched it unfold.
Video taken from the scene shows agents loading several people into the back of a Penske rental truck.
“We’re hearing that approximately 10 people were taken. We’ve been in communication with local community members, vendors, and day laborers,” stated Tony Carfello, an organizer from the LA Tenants Union.
The Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed how many people were taken.
“They cordoned off a section of the parking lot and aggressively detained people indiscriminately. They targeted those just trying to earn a living, survive, and take care of themselves,” Carfello elaborated.
Among those detained was the sister of a street vendor assisting in setting up a food stall that morning. The vendor recounted to Eyewitness News, off-camera, how agents approached them but took only her sister.
She added her sister has been in the country for 13 years and has children, but never had any problems with law enforcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a post on X said the federal government is proceeding with immigration raids.
“For anyone under the impression that immigration enforcement had ceased in Southern California, let me clarify: federal law enforcement persists without exceptions, and there are no safe havens from federal jurisdiction,” Essayli explained.
This incident follows the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to uphold a temporary restraining order against random immigration stops and arrests across seven Southern California counties, including Los Angeles.
Last month, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting immigration agents from stopping individuals without reasonable suspicion.
The order also barred agents from relying solely on factors such as race and ethnicity, speaking with an accent or being at locations such as bus stops, car washes or agricultural sites as a basis for detaining people.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ office issued the following statement in response to Wednesday’s raid:
“For months federal agents have been masking themselves and now they’re using rental trucks to conduct their seemingly discriminatory raids – these tactics are dangerous. The Federal court of appeals made clear that it is unconstitutional in this country to racially profile people and snatch them from worksites. The City is gathering information about these reported raids and considering all legal options. Tactics like this are un-American and we will never accept these terrorizing ploys as a new normal.”
Penske also weighed in on the use of its vehicle during the raid, saying the company “strictly prohibits the transportation of people in the cargo area of its vehicles under any circumstances.”
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