After a relatively quiet few weeks, border patrol agents stormed Home Depot on Westlake on Wednesday.
As many as 16 migrants were reportedly arrested, closing with what was called the “Trojan Horse Operation,” known as Chief Greg Bovino of the US Border Patrol Sector. The early morning raid revived fears of the wider sweep that organizers hoped to make easier with federal judge orders, confirmed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal Panel that immigration officials cannot racially introduce people or use roving patrols to target immigrants.
“Think again for those who thought immigration enforcement had stopped in Southern California,” says the lawyer for Bill Essay, who posted to X shortly after the attack, think again. “Federal law enforcement is not negotiable and there is no sanctuary out of reach of the federal government.”
The day he identified himself as Caesar said that around 6:45am, a yellow Penske truck that grew up as workers gathered in the parking lot pulled up the car. The driver told them in Spanish that he was looking for workers.
Several men gathered around the truck, and then it was unclear who had rolled behind the truck for him. Those wearing cowboy hats began to pop out and chase after people. People are scattered.
“This is the worst feeling ever,” said Sheer, who has been going to the home improvement store for several years to pick up work.
The social media video was captured the moment the back of the rental truck opened. When asked about the Penske truck rental, they said they knew the incident.
“The company did not recognize that the trucks are being used in today’s business and did not allow this,” said Randolph P. Ryerson, a spokesman for Penske. “Penske will reach out to DHS and strengthen its policy to avoid inappropriate use of the vehicle in the future.
He added: “Penceke strictly prohibits the transportation of people in the cargo area of vehicles under all circumstances,” the statement said.
One worker who escaped was still shaken by the experience an hour later. He identified himself as Raul and said he saw at least eight people being arrested.
“It’s one of their cars,” he said, pointing to the silver Toyota sedan.
Home Depot was one of the scenes of its first assault in June, launching more than a month’s operation in Southern California, with civil rights lawyers saying federal agents indiscriminately arresting immigrants. The raids destroyed businesses, spread fear and tore families apart.
On July 11, a federal judge temporarily blocked federal agents from using racial profiling to make indiscriminate arrests.
Justice Department lawyers argued that the order would prevent federal immigration enforcement, but the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the order.
In the past few weeks since the restraining order began in early July, Bovino has shared photos of the arrests of undocumented immigrants, saying some have an aggressive arrest warrant. Along with others, he referenced his long criminal history and marked his arrest as more targeted than before.
However, organizers say a similar operation was unfolding as the raid that unfolded Monday at Home Depot in Hollywood, the site of the massive attack in June. The operation also raised concerns about a TRO violation.
Maegan Ortiz, the executive director of popular California, the nonprofit Instituto de Educación, known as Idepsca, said he began receiving words about immigration operations at Home Depot in Hollywood around 6:50 a.m. Monday.
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