Tensions flared in Los Angeles as protests against potential immigration raids turned violent, fueled by rumors and misinformation. The controversy centered around a Home Depot store in Paramount, a suburb with a large Hispanic population, where day laborers typically gather to find work. Despite the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denying any raid occurred, protests escalated into confrontations between demonstrators and the National Guard.
Protesters gathered along Alondra Boulevard in Paramount after reports that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were targeting people at the Home Depot store. Chants of “Fuera ICE” (ICE, get out) could be heard as flash-bang grenades deployed by federal agents lit up the scene. According to eyewitnesses, at least one protester was injured, and a Border Patrol official said an agent was hurt. “You’re not welcome here!” one man with a Los Angeles Angels ball cap shouted to the soldiers as another protester uncapped spray paint and wrote an obscenity directed at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The DHS clarified that there was no ICE raid at the Home Depot in LA, contradicting the rumors that sparked the protests. “Despite false reports, there was no ICE ‘raid’ at a Home Depot in LA,” the DHS told the BBC. However, the agency reported arresting 118 undocumented immigrants in the Los Angeles area, including five alleged gang members with previous criminal histories.
President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, citing the need to maintain law and order. “There were violent people in Los Angeles, and they’re not gonna get away with it,” Trump said. Critics argue that deploying the National Guard is an inflammatory move. LA Mayor emphasized support for all Angelinos, regardless of their birthplace, saying, “We stand with all Angelinos no matter where you were born.”
For many in the Hispanic community, the protests marked a breaking point. “It was time to stand up,” said Maria Gutierrez, who protested in Paramount. “These are my people… This is LA. It touches us all. Everyone has family or knows someone who doesn’t have papers.” The city’s status as a sanctuary city, where local authorities do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, adds to the complexity of the issue.