As the Trump administration turns its focus toward Iran, millions of Southern Californians are gripped by a different kind of fear.
Across the region, business districts are empty, city events are being canceled not because of foreign threats, but because of ongoing immigration raids unfolding in their neighborhoods.
Many communities feel under siege—people afraid to leave their homes—as the line between federal enforcement, intimidation, and what’s actually legal grows increasingly blurred.
Armed Immigration Agent in Bell Friday
Immigrants, many without without criminal records, are being taken off the streets by armed individuals in unmarked vehicles. No uniforms. No badges. Faces covered. Tinted windows. Out-of-state license plates. It’s unclear who they are or who gave them the power to act this way.
“They refuse to give ID,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “Are they bounty hunters? Vigilantes? If they’re federal officials, why don’t they identify themselves?”
Snatched off Street
In Pasadena Saturday morning, families watched as two men were snatched off the street while buying tamales from a street cart at a very popular park. The mayor immediately canceled activities at city parks across Pasadena, he said, in a move to protect residents and their families.
Violent Clashes
In the city of Bell, violent clashes broke out Friday evening when armed, masked agents attempted to detain several people working at a local car wash. Dozens of residents and employees pushed back and confronted the agents on the streets outside the business.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, one of their vehicles was rammed and had its tires slashed. A civilian reportedly struck a federal vehicle, totaling it. Despite the violence, no agents were injured. One person was arrested when police were called to help the agents escape the area.
Who are the Agents?
Without full transparency, we can’t say with 100% certainty. But based on sightings and markings on their vests, it’s likely they fall under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under one of these three key agencies:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Handles detentions and removals.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Focuses on trafficking, smuggling, and visa fraud, often supporting ICE operations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – Typically works at ports of entry and along the border but has occasionally assisted with interior enforcement.
There’s also a military presence in Los Angeles with the National Guard and Marines in the downtown area, but so far, they’re limited to protecting federal property in the event of more protests. And at this point, they have no power to arrest civilians.
Who’s Being Arrested?
The vast majority of people being swept up and booked into ICE detention aren’t violent criminals and most have no convictions at all.
Since October 1 (the start of the 2025 fiscal year), ICE has detained over 204,000 people.
📌 65% had no criminal convictions
📌 93% were never convicted of a violent offense
What’s Legal During Immigration Raids?
By the cell phone video recordings and reporting, many of the recent arrests across Los Angeles County have reported to be warrantless, raising questions about what’s legal and what’s not. Here’s a quick breakdown of what federal agents can and cannot do:
What Federal Agents Can Do:
Detain individuals with probable cause of an immigration violation.
Operate in public spaces (sidewalks, parks, streets, parking lots).
Conduct raids at homes or businesses only if:
They have a judicial warrant (signed by a judge), or
An administrative warrant (issued by ICE) but this does NOT give them the right to enter private property without permission.
Make arrests in public if they have legal grounds.
What Federal Agents Cannot Do:
Enter a home without:
A judicial warrant, or
Consent from someone inside.
Detain or question people at random without reasonable suspicion or probable cause.
Refuse to identify themselves: failure to do so can raise serious civil rights concerns.
Know Your Rights:
Legal experts say it's okay to give your name but anything more can be used against you in immigration proceedings. That’s why it’s critical to know your rights:
You have the right to remain silent beyond stating your name.
You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, your immigration status, or how you entered the country.
You can say: “I choose to remain silent.”
You have the right to ask if you're free to go.
You have the right to a lawyer if you are detained.
Who’s Tougher on Deportations: Republicans or Democrats?
I mentioned this a couple weeks ago, but it’s worth repeating: Democrats have been especially tough on deportations, they’ve just been quieter about it.
Yes, Trump brought brute force, tough talk, and headline-grabbing ICE raids. But when you look at the actual numbers, it’s not even close.
Under Obama, more undocumented immigrants were deported than under Trump.
The data is clear. While Trump made noise, Obama made removals: over 3 million, compared to Trump’s ~1 million during his term.
Policy Focus
Obama Administration prioritized recent border crossers and immigrants with criminal records.
The first Trump Administration expanded the priority list to nearly all undocumented immigrants, but legal, logistical, and pandemic-related hurdles kept overall removals lower.