Los Angeles Immigration Raids Spark Fear and Protests

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On a quiet Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, immigration agents arrived at a busy car wash near the airport, and everything changed in seconds.

The car wash, Westchester Hand Wash, was filled with customers and workers. When agents from US Customs and Border Protection pulled up in olive-green uniforms, some people froze in place. Others quickly ran away. Security camera footage shows two workers hiding behind an SUV, while another looked up in shock and then ran. Some jumped over a fence while agents chased them on foot and in pickup trucks.

The very next day, the agents came back and arrested more people.

One of those arrested was Jesús Cruz. He had worked at that car wash for over 10 years and had lived in the US for more than 30 years. His wife, Noemi Ciau, was out shopping with their daughter when she saw a social media post about a possible raid. She rushed to the car wash, but by the time she got there, it was too late. Her husband had already been taken, and she hasn't heard from him since.

Noemi said, “You get used to having your partner by your side to help. Now it’s like—how will I manage alone?” She also shared that Jesús never had any legal problems and that their family pays taxes and follows the rules. She did not say whether they were in the country legally.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not comment on Jesús Cruz’s immigration status or explain why they targeted that car wash.

These raids are part of a larger push by the US government to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants. President Donald Trump had promised to remove noncitizens who committed crimes. That idea had support, even from some immigrant communities. But now, the effort has grown. Officials are trying to arrest up to 3,000 people a day, instead of the earlier 660.

To reach this number, they are no longer focusing only on people with criminal records. They are also targeting workplaces like farms, factories, and car washes.

A top advisor, Stephen Miller, reportedly told agents to go out and arrest undocumented immigrants even without specific target lists. He suggested raiding large businesses to arrest as many people as possible.

The car wash owner, Mehmet Aydogan, said the agents didn’t ask for IDs and just arrested the men. “They weren’t doing anything wrong,” he said. “They were just hardworking people.”

Just days before, a similar raid happened at Ambiance Apparel, a clothing company in downtown LA. Witnesses said more than a dozen people were arrested. Officials said it was a criminal investigation, but some undocumented immigrants were arrested during the raid.

A man named Enrique Lopez saw the raid and posted videos online. Soon, protesters gathered outside, trying to stop the arrests. Police used flash bangs and tear gas to move the crowd. It was one of the first protests in LA, but not the last.

Protests began on June 6 and have grown in size, sometimes becoming violent. Hundreds of people have been arrested, and curfews are now in place in some areas.

Still, immigration officers say the protests won’t stop their work. President Trump has even sent in the National Guard and US Marines to help with the crackdown.

Los Angeles County is being hit hard. It is estimated that over 900,000 people living there do not have legal status—about 10% of the population. Many families include both legal and undocumented members, making these raids especially painful.

Mayor Karen Bass said, “People in LA are living in fear. They don’t know if the next raid will be at their home or their job. Parents are scared to send their kids to school.”

Social media is being used to warn communities when immigration officers are nearby. But it also spreads false information, adding to the fear.

One local non-profit group has even asked undocumented people to stay home. They are offering to run errands like grocery shopping for them, so they can stay safe indoors.

People never know where or when the next raid will happen. Immigration agencies usually don’t announce their plans or give updates about where detainees are taken. This leaves families confused and worried.

The raids are not only happening in Los Angeles. Recently, raids happened at farms and a meat-packing plant in Nebraska. Protests are now being held in cities like New York, Dallas, Washington, and Boston.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said, “California may be first, but it won’t be the last. Other states are next.”

Immigration lawyer Karla Navarrete, who is helping many families, said the system is overwhelmed. Families and lawyers often can’t find out where the arrested people are. Sometimes they’ve already been moved to another state or deported before anyone finds out. 

Noemi Ciau, whose husband Jesús was arrested, found out on Tuesday that he is no longer in California. Her lawyer told her he is now at a detention center in El Paso, Texas—over 800 miles away.

Their youngest child, a 5-year-old boy, is having the hardest time. “He keeps asking for his dad. I don’t know what to say. He thinks his dad is still at work,” Noemi said, her voice shaking with tears.