Thursday morning, Northeast valley residents rushed to defend their undocumented community members after receiving alerts that they were being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. A caravan drove through the area, assuring that witnesses would be present at each report of a sighting.
Agents were spotted at multiple locations throughout the Northeast Valley, including in the City of San Fernando, Pacoima and Sylmar.
Community activist and San Fernando Valley resident Alida Garcia went to the Home Depot on Foothill Boulevard in the City of San Fernando at 6 a.m. with a small group to introduce themselves to the day laborers and pass out know-your-rights information. They left by 8:30 a.m., and shortly after, at around 9 a.m. ICE agents arrived.
Garcia rushed back to the scene, but in under 10 minutes, the agents had already fled.
“People estimate that around 10 or so men were taken,” said Garcia, “and they estimate around 15 or so agents were there.”
The names of some of the laborers who were taken were Omar, Saul and Ramiro. Garcia encourages anyone who thinks their loved one may have been detained to contact the Immigrant Defenders Law Center Hotline at (213) 833-8283, where attorneys can help them locate their loved ones.
According to Fresa Aceves, an organizer with the People’s Struggle San Fernando Valley (PSSFV), ICE agents detained both day laborers and street vendors at the Home Depot parking lot.
Aceves rushed to the Lowe’s on Paxton Street in Pacoima when she received a tip that the federal agents were trying to detain people there.
“I didn’t expect to roll onto an active scene, but I was at an active scene,” said Acevedes, who estimated up to 10 agents, some with weapons drawn. They had several unmarked SUVs and a large white cargo van, she recalled.
Videos from the incident show federal agents wearing tactical vests that read “U.S. Border Patrol.”
Two people were reported to have been detained.
Another woman was pushed to the ground so hard by the agents that she was reportedly experiencing a medical emergency. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was called to treat her, and an ambulance transported her to a hospital.
“At Lowe’s, a lot of community members were there with their phones letting ICE know that they are not welcome in our community,” said Acevedes, estimating 20-30 local residents and activists.
Because of the growing crowd and traffic congestion, Acevedes said that over a dozen LA Police Department (LAPD) officers arrived.
According to Howie Galper, another organizer with the PSSFV, three people were arrested by the LAPD Foothill Division, and were later transferred to Van Nuys.
Acevedes said she and others followed up with further reports of ICE sightings at the Sparkling Image Car Wash on Truman Street and Vallarta Market on Rinaldi Street in the City of San Fernando.
“[ICE] asked folks for documentation,” said Acevedes, adding, “they were asking questions, and then they left” without detaining anyone.
City of San Fernando Vice Mayor Mary Solorio and LA City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez visited the Home Depot site in the aftermath of the raid. The two officials were working to help connect legal aid with the families of those who were taken, and figure out how to protect the vehicles left behind by those who were abducted.
“It’s really indiscriminate,” Rodriguez told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol. “It’s clear to me that they’re [ICE] abducting first and asking questions later. It doesn’t appear that there are warrants that are furnished. It’s just racial profiling that’s occurred.”
She encouraged residents in the Northeast Valley to “know-your-rights” and check in with friends or family members, so that someone always knows where you are going to be.
Further, providing accurate information when reporting ICE sightings is very important, said Rodriguez, as misinformation and false reports can cause more panic and harm than good.
“I understand how frightening it is for everybody,” said Rodriguez. “It’s heartbreaking, but all we can do is best protect one another, be cautious and thoughtful about where you go.”
Call or text (562) 977-8118 for The People’s Struggle San Fernando Valley rapid response line for ICE sightings in the San Fernando Valley.
Immigrant Defenders Law Center
(213) 833-8283
immdef.org
CHIRLA
chirla.org
(213) 353-1333