Photo by Lorenzo Gomez
Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — What appeared to be a series of federal law enforcement actions had some local officials and immigrant-rights activists on edge Feb. 28, again heightening fears of widespread raids anticipated under President Donald Trump’s hard-line stance on illegal immigration.
City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez spoke at the beginning of the City Council meeting to express concern about the activity.
“Colleagues, this morning we have been receiving reports from my district and from others about aggressive immigration raids and enforcement,” Hernandez said. “My team and I have been in contact with community members and rapid response organizers since early this morning. The stories we are hearing are heartbreaking and indefensible.
“When we fought to make Los Angeles a sanctuary city last year, it’s because this is what we feared. We feared for our neighbors, for our families for our children, families being ripped apart. We feared for people who would be targeted by weak-minded politicians who rely on ripping families apart.”
The nature and extent of the law enforcement activities weren’t clear.
Ron Gochez of Union del Barrio and the Community Self-Defense Coalition — a group of more than 60 immigrant-rights organizations — alleged that the Los Angeles Police Department was involved in at least one of the operations carried out in South Los Angeles, in violation of the city’s stance against taking part in federal immigration enforcement.
He circulated videos he said were taken that morning showing LAPD officers on scene of a “Border Patrol/ICE raid” at a home near 41st Street and Avalon.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell issued a statement that afternoon saying he understands “there are concerns regarding immigration enforcement activity occurring in the city today.”
But he refuted claims the department was assisting in any immigration actions.
“This morning LAPD was in Newton Division assisting with traffic control as Homeland Security was attempting to arrest a suspect wanted for human trafficking,” McDonnell said. “Any questions involving this investigation should be directed to their department.
“I want to be absolutely clear: the LAPD does not participate in civil immigration enforcement. This has been the department’s policy since 1979, and it remains unchanged today.”
Immigrant rights advocates staged a protest march and rally in downtown March 3 on what activists called “A Day Without an Immigrant.”
