On June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 44 individuals across Los Angeles, triggering violent protests and clashes with law enforcement. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe stated that agents executed search warrants at three locations, targeting illegal employment. However, immigrant advocacy groups reported arrests at seven sites, including two Home Depot stores, a fashion district warehouse, and a doughnut shop, where a business was suspected of using fictitious documents. The raids, part of a nationwide crackdown, escalated tensions as protesters gathered, chanting “Set them free, let them stay!” outside detention centers. Authorities used flash bangs and pepper spray to disperse crowds, intensifying the chaos.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the operations, accusing ICE of sowing “terror” in immigrant communities. ICE Director Todd Lyons defended the raids, claiming they target dangerous criminals, with 1,600 daily arrests. The clashes highlight deepening divides over immigration enforcement in the city.
