Local activists and social media influencers are using their platform to alert the Southern California immigration raids and law enforcement communities.
Sennett Devermont is the founder of Always For The People Foundation, a nonprofit organization focusing on social justice issues. He is also known as MrCheckpoint on Instagram and has nearly 420,000 followers.
He uses the platform as a way to encourage accountability and transparency between law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
His latest video filmed a woman being taken to an agent and was placed in a sixth and unmarked SUV near Broadway in downtown Los Angeles’ Jewelry District. A large group of bystanders can be seen surrounding agents and expressing their opposition to the arrest.
Sennett Devermont, known as MrCheckpoint on Instagram, uses the platform to warn the Southern California immigration raids and law enforcement community. (KTLA) Videos were taken to immigration agents on June 28, 2025 to an unmarked SUV near Downtown Los Angeles and Broadway, showing that an ice raid was suspected in Downey on June 28, 2025.
Devermont said he usually receives videos of police activities and immigrant raids from his followers. From there, he and his team will check the information before finally posting content to their account
“We called them and explained, ‘Are you still there? What’s going on? Did they take someone with you?” Devamont explained his review process. “In many cases, we get information in real time.”
Devermont said he hopes his platform will play a key role in community members to receive information and alerts that will impact their lives.
In another video, he posted about the immigrant raid. The man’s family accidentally discovers he is in custody after being left in the dark over his loss.
“I shared the video and someone says, ‘That’s my nephew! I didn’t know where he was. I didn’t even realize this happened because of this video.” ”
His page now features more prominent immigrant raids, but Devermont first created an Instagram account after claiming he was targeted by Santa Monica officials when he was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
“The officers didn’t know I was filming,” he said. “I uploaded it to YouTube and got millions of views, and the number one comment was, ‘This happened to me!” he recalled. “I said, ‘Did you have the footage?’ It’s always no, so instead of saying ‘f***’ I said I should always film the police. ”
Since that incident, Devermont said he has focused on filming law enforcement activities in his community and encouraged others to do the same. He aims to empower residents to stand up for those who cannot speak up, especially during the ongoing federal immigration raids, and to take responsibility for law enforcement.
“I hate it and it breaks my heart,” he said. “You can’t keep watching these videos of people being chased and dragged.”
Devermont advises that the best way to protect yourself and others is to capture activities involving law enforcement on your mobile phone or camera for evidence.
