Operation Trojan Horse: When Journalism Rides Shotgun
Migrants were seen scattering across the Home Depot parking lot after DHS agents arrived on the scene in Penske trucks in downtown Los Angeles. | @MattFinnFNC
— #Fox News (#@FoxNews)
4:05 PM • Aug 6, 2025
As many as 16 immigrants were rounded up in what U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino described as “Operation Trojan Horse.” This happened in the Westlake District near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.
But what’s drawing concern isn’t just the aggressive tactics used by federal agents; it's the FOX News crew who rode along and filmed the arrests without apparently asking critical questions of those conducting the raid.
What We Know
Around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, a yellow Penske truck pulled into a parking lot where day laborers had gathered.
A man speaking Spanish told them he was looking for workers.
As the men approached, the truck’s back door rolled up, and masked federal agents jumped out and began chasing people.
A Fox News crew was embedded behind the agents (it appears you can see them in the video from CBS Los Angeles).
Agents also focused on arresting workers at a food stall at the corner of Union and Wilshire.
Critical Questions Left Unasked
The FOX News crew captured the raid, but did they ask the right questions of the agents and DHS? Did they ask any?
Did ICE have warrants for these arrests?
Were any of these individuals accused of a crime, or just gathered in a public space seeking work?
Was this racially motivated? A federal judge and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals have ruled that immigration officials cannot racially profile or use roving patrols to detain people based solely on appearance.
So far, FOX News and its reporter embedded with federal agents, Matt Finn, simply repeated what DHS claimed: MS-13 had a “chokehold” on the area where the raid took place.
Breaking: DHS arrives in Penske trucks at a Home Depot in McArthur Park area of LA for early morning immigration enforcement. The area was filled with migrants who scattered. DHS says MS 13 has a chokehold on this area, which is one reason they’re carrying out the highly
— #Matt Finn (#@MattFinnFNC)
2:49 PM • Aug 6, 2025
When pressed by social media followers, Finn offered no firsthand evidence to support the claim. Rather than citing his own reporting, he linked to two old articles—one from the LA Times and another from NPR—neither of which confirmed that MS-13 was actively operating in the area or that any of the people arrested had gang affiliations.
The “Trojan Horse”
And what about the Penske truck? Penske said they didn’t know about the Feds using one of their branded trucks to lure immigrant day laborers in MacArthur Park. So, at minimum it exploits public trust in a well-known business. The courts will likely decide if it crosses legal boundaries.
As for the FOX News crew that was doing the ride-a-long in the Penske truck, did they stop for even a second to consider the optics or their role in this operation?
A statement from Penske Truck Rental
— #Penske Transportation Solutions (#@PenskeNews)
4:26 PM • Aug 6, 2025
Why It Matters
While there’s no doubt MacArthur Park has long been marked by urban decay, crime and yes, even gangs. This morning, the most basic questions weren’t asked. And if you’re not asking questions, you’re not reporting. You’re just a mouthpiece for the people in power.
For those who thought immigration enforcement had stopped in Southern California, think again. The enforcement of federal law is not negotiable, and there are no sanctuaries from the reach of the federal government. 🇺🇸
— #Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (#@USAttyEssayli)
3:33 PM • Aug 6, 2025
About Calibrate
✨Founded by journalists-turned-creators who’ve launched platforms and led award-winning newsrooms, Calibrate is rooted in one belief: facts matter, and stories told with honesty can still cut through the noise.
