Introduction to Ongoing Home Depot Raids
Federal agents detained day laborers outside of a Home Depot in Van Nuys during two raids Friday morning, raising questions over whether their actions may violate a court order that bans agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate immigration arrests. The operations took place around 7:35 a.m. and then again at 11:50 a.m. outside the Home Depot on Roscoe Boulevard, according to Maegan Ortiz, executive director of Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California, which runs a resource center for day laborers directly next to the store.
Details of the Raids
The Department of Homeland Security, which includes Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed the operations in a statement, calling them “targeted immigration raids” that resulted in the arrests of seven undocumented immigrants from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said four of those individuals had criminal records, including for driving under the influence of alcohol, disorderly conduct, and failing to adhere to previous removal orders.
Concerns Over Court Order Violation
A number of unmarked white vans started circling the parking lot, and immigration agents began “grabbing people first and then asking people for ID,” said Ortiz, adding that her organization has confirmed 10 people were taken. “[The agents] came straight for the day labor center,” Ortiz said. “It is very clear they are targeting day laborers and they are targeting the organization.” On July 11, a U.S. district judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking federal agents in Southern and Central California from targeting people based on their race, language, vocation, or location without reasonable suspicion that they are in the U.S. illegally.
Reactions and Investigations
Ortiz said immigration agents conducted another raid near a Home Depot in Cypress Park on Saturday. Ortiz said she was aware of a half-dozen arrests during the incident. Further details were not immediately available. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass raised concerns over whether the Trojan Horse style action violated the temporary restraining order and directed City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto to look into the matter. “Rounding people up who are just trying to work and put food on the table doesn’t make anyone safer. The City is investigating and exploring all legal options,” Bass said in a statement.
Defense from Immigration Authorities
U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino defended the legality of ongoing Home Depot raids. “The Border Patrol, CBP, and our allied law enforcement partners, when we conduct law enforcement operations, we always abide by the law — whether it’s a temporary restraining order … whether it’s applicable federal laws, rules and regulations, and most especially the Constitution of the United States,” he said during an interview with Fox News. Bovino said Operation Trojan Horse was a targeted operation based on pre-intelligence, not an indiscriminate sweep.
Statistics on Arrests and Criminal Histories
A Times review of Immigration and Customs Enforcement data in June found that the majority of people arrested in Southern California had no criminal history. Of the 2,031 people arrested from June 1 to June 26, about 68% of those had no criminal convictions, and 57% had never been charged with a crime. Bovino said that of the 16 people apprehended during Operation Trojan Horse, at least six had “significant immigration and criminal histories.” He said this reflects the trend seen in larger immigration operations, where 30% to 40% of people arrested typically have significant immigration and criminal histories.
Conclusion
The ongoing raids at Home Depot locations in Los Angeles have sparked controversy and concerns over potential violations of a court order aimed at preventing racial profiling in immigration arrests. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how immigration authorities will balance their enforcement efforts with the need to respect the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
FAQs
- Q: What is the basis of the controversy surrounding the Home Depot raids?
A: The controversy stems from concerns that immigration agents may be violating a court order by targeting individuals based on their race, language, vocation, or location without reasonable suspicion of being in the U.S. illegally. - Q: How many people were arrested during the raids mentioned in the article?
A: According to the information provided, a total of 16 people were apprehended during Operation Trojan Horse, and there were additional arrests during other raids, including at least 6 people during the raid in Cypress Park. - Q: What percentage of people arrested in Southern California had no criminal history?
A: About 68% of the 2,031 people arrested from June 1 to June 26 had no criminal convictions, and 57% had never been charged with a crime. - Q: What is the stance of immigration authorities on the legality of their operations?
A: Immigration authorities, including U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino, claim that their operations are lawful and targeted, based on pre-intelligence and not indiscriminate sweeps.
