Protesters block an ICE van from moving on Thursday in Los Angeles. Authorities say most of those arrested were criminals. Photo: Los Angeles Times via TNS
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https://scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2133635/us-immigration-officials-arrest-212-people-massive United States & Canada
US immigration officials arrest 212 people in massive five-day sweep across Los Angeles - inviting protest
A single protester argues with LAPD officers as other protesters block an ICE van in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday at the end of a five-day immigration sweep that saw 212 people being arrested. Photo: Los Angeles Times via TNS
US federal agents said Friday they had arrested 212 people in Los Angeles for violating federal immigration laws.
The vast majority - 88 percent - of those arrested “were convicted criminals,” the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency said in a statement.
The arrests were carried out in a five-day operation that ended Thursday in the second most populous US urban center.
Los Angeles is a “sanctuary city” that does not collaborate with federal officials on detaining people suspected of violating immigration laws.
“Because sanctuary jurisdictions like Los Angeles prevent ICE from arresting criminal aliens in the secure confines of a jail, our officers are forced to conduct at-large arrests in the community,” said ICE Deputy Director Thomas Homan.
This puts “officers, the general public and the aliens at greater risk and increasing the incidents of collateral arrests,” he said.
While the focus of the sweep was to arrest undocumented migrants with a criminal record, others without such a record were also picked up.
“All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States,” the statement read.
ICE did not specify those arrested by nationality when asked by AFP.
The agents also served 122 notices of inspection to Los Angeles-area businesses, warning “that ICE is going to audit their hiring records to determine whether or not they are in compliance with the law.”
Protesters block the ICE van on Thursday in LA. Photo: Los Angeles Times via TNS
If they fail the audit, the businesses “will face civil fines and potential criminal prosecution,” the statement said.
The raids resulted in a protest on Thursday night, as demonstrators blocked a Homeland Security van from accessing the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles
Dozens of people from groups including Koreatown Popular Assembly and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, surrounded the marked van, chanting, “Drive out ICE!” and “Stop the deportations!” Some held signs.
“The original goal was to really loudly proclaim that we’re not going to stand for ICE destroying families … on Valentine’s Day of all days,” said Rabbi Aryeh Cohen, who is on the board of an organizing group.
“When the ICE/DHS van came, our group of people decided it was time to put their bodies in front of the machinery of deportation,” he said.
Activists said police issued a dispersal order about 9pm. No one was arrested.