On Friday, October 10th, Southern California witnessed a series of intense ICE raids targeting various neighborhoods, businesses, and public areas. Community members reported that ICE agents and Border Patrol personnel were actively conducting operations in Hollywood, Oxnard, Santa Maria, Santa Ana, Tustin, San Diego, City of Industry, Rosemead, San Gabriel, Baldwin Hills, Mission Hills, and Skid Row.
Morning ICE Raids Sweep Across Southern California
ICE agents began their raids early in Hollywood around 6:00 a.m., apprehending a man on N Western Ave and Romaine St. Several bystanders tried to record the event, but ICE agents cut their footage short. In Oxnard, ICE agents targeted the Lemon Grove Plaza around 6:30 a.m., but made no arrests as none of the businesses were open. Later, ICE scouts monitored the El Rio neighborhood at 7:15 a.m.
Observers at the Santa Maria County Jail saw ICE ERO personnel take a woman from the parking lot. In Santa Ana, ICE agents kidnapped a woman outside the Cruz Azul restaurant during another raid. In Tustin, multiple ICE vehicles scouted areas like Anaheim Plaza and local car washes, repeating tactics from prior raids.
San Diego saw some of the most aggressive ICE raids. In Logan Heights, masked and unmasked Border Patrol agents entered residential neighborhoods but left after community pressure. Shortly after, ICE agents kidnapped a woman from her vehicle. At the Challenger Car Wash on El Cajon Blvd, masked agents, with an ATF officer, apprehended another woman.
Large-scale ICE raids also occurred elsewhere. City of Industry saw six people taken from the Home Depot parking lot. In Rosemead, 20 masked agents swarmed a car wash, detaining at least three people. San Gabriel’s Mission Car Wash experienced a similar raid with two people taken. Baldwin Hills and Mission Hills saw ICE agents coordinating surveillance, and Skid Row reported a DHS van carrying a detainee escorted by two ICE agents.
ICE Raids Target Workers and Random Bystanders
Observers noted that ICE agents focused their raids not only on known suspects but also on workers and random bystanders. In several cases, agents apprehended individuals at car washes, restaurants, or on residential streets without giving prior warnings. Agents wore masks and traveled in unmarked vehicles, sometimes accompanied by federal law enforcement officers from agencies such as the ATF.
Videos circulating online showed ICE agents highlighting detainees’ tattoos and personal features while executing arrests. Some community members compared these tactics to propaganda techniques, pointing out that agents emphasized appearance rather than legal status. Despite claims that ICE targeted criminal elements, most detainees appeared to be regular community members or workers, not gang-affiliated or violent offenders.
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In Los Angeles and other cities, community watch groups played a critical role in monitoring ICE raids. They documented ICE activity, pressured agents to leave certain neighborhoods, and provided real-time alerts to residents. While ICE agents completed some raids, community presence and early warnings foiled several attempts.
Federal and Local Developments
In addition to the on-the-ground operations, other developments highlighted the broader immigration enforcement landscape. A federal judge in Chicago ruled that ICE agents who are not undercover must wear visible identification when on duty, including during arrests or protests. This decision aims to increase accountability and transparency during ICE raids.
Data regarding assaults on ICE personnel has been publicly debated. While the White House cited a dramatic rise in attacks, court record analysis indicates a smaller increase of approximately 25% in charges for assault against federal officers through mid-September compared to last year.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County considered a state of emergency to address the fallout from ICE raids, potentially including an eviction moratorium for households affected by sudden income loss. Officials noted that such measures could unintentionally reveal residents’ immigration status if used in legal proceedings.
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In ongoing deportation cases, Southeast Asian migrants were recently flown to Eswatini under largely secretive agreements, with reports indicating that up to 160 individuals may be accepted in exchange for monetary arrangements. Legal proceedings continue for some deportees, with questions about government compliance and international agreements still under scrutiny.
Friday’s ICE raids illustrate the scale and intensity of enforcement activities in Southern California. Observers noted that agents targeted not only workplaces but also random bystanders near foiled or scouted road sites, highlighting a new tactic in the ongoing immigration operations.
