Immigration rights activists have banded together to conduct patrols throughout Los Angeles communities and, in a few instances, have stopped raids as they were happening.
One group, Community Self-Defense Coalition, told KTLA they’ve busted two raids so far – one in Alhambra, and the other in San Fernando.
It was early Sunday morning when community members heard group volunteers alerting them of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Alhambra.
“There they are, there’s ICE, ICE spotted in Alhambra,” one activist is heard saying in video footage showing a group of volunteers driving up to the scene.
Their group, Community Self-Defense Coalition, is made up of more than 100 volunteers and began patrolling the streets of L.A. to notify the public of immigration enforcement activity.
“We denounce [ICE] and alert the community with megaphones,” volunteer Rob Gochez told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “We were there until the agents left. They didn’t kidnap anybody today.”
These anti-ICE efforts are coming at a time when the Trump administration is ramping up its crackdown on illegal immigration.
On Saturday, President Trump reinstated his hardline stance at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve begun the largest deportation operation in American history, larger than even that of President Eisenhower,” said Trump.
Earlier this month, the LA Times obtained a memo regarding potential mass ICE roundups taking place in February, saying the operation would focus on those who do not have legal status in the country, or who already have pending orders of removal.
That’s why activists said they are also passing out these informative cards, so those who are undocumented know their rights.
