NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
Federal and local law enforcement officials say recent unrest in Los Angeles was triggered by misinformation surrounding a criminal investigation—not a broad immigration enforcement operation, as some critics have claimed.
According to federal authorities, the initial law enforcement action was part of a financial crimes investigation into businesses allegedly connected to cartel operations. The operation was carried out on Friday in Los Angeles’ garment district.
Border Security Advisor Tom Homan said agents were executing a criminal warrant related to allegations of money laundering, customs fraud, and tax evasion. Authorities say the targeted business failed to declare over $80 million in imported goods and evaded approximately $17 million in taxes and tariffs.
While around 40 undocumented immigrants were arrested during the operation, officials maintain that immigration enforcement was not the central focus. “We served a criminal warrant and arrested about 40 illegal aliens,” Homan told L.A. radio host John Kobylt. “This included individuals convicted of murder, armed robbery, and child sex crimes. We made the city safer.”
Homan also criticized those who, in his view, misrepresented the nature of the operation. “People just want to attack ICE. But we’re going to continue doing our job,” he said.
The incident became a flashpoint for protests after David Huerta, head of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), reportedly attempted to disrupt the federal operation. Huerta and others confronted federal agents, apparently under the belief that it was an immigration-focused raid. Video clips of the confrontation—featuring anti-ICE chants—spread rapidly online.
The following day, a second set of search warrants was executed near a Home Depot in Paramount. The operation involved hundreds of federal agents, including a large Border Patrol presence. According to U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, protesters arrived shortly after agents began their work.
Essayli described the demonstrations as “organized and ready,” and said their presence helped escalate the situation. “That’s what set everything off,” he told KFI radio.
During the operation, federal agents detained individuals present at the scene, including more than 40 undocumented immigrants, consistent with administrative removal procedures.
As tensions rose, federal officers encountered violent resistance. Tear gas and less-lethal rounds were deployed, and a Black Hawk helicopter was used to provide reinforcements and supplies. Essayli noted that LAPD was contacted for backup, but it reportedly took two hours for officers to arrive.
Essayli also dismissed claims that local officials had ordered police to stand down, though he questioned the urgency of the response. “The city is not in control,” he said. “That’s why the president activated the National Guard.”
Officials have reiterated that the federal operations were part of a broader effort to dismantle financial crimes tied to transnational criminal organizations, not mass immigration raids.
Sources close to the investigation allege that organized activist groups deliberately mischaracterized the operation, inflaming tensions and contributing to the protests. While these claims have not been independently verified, authorities say they’re continuing to assess the events that led to the riots.
The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice have emphasized their commitment to both immigration enforcement and investigations into serious criminal conduct.
National Guard personnel remain deployed across parts of Los Angeles to help stabilize the situation. City and state officials have not released independent findings regarding the cause of the unrest or the timeline of local law enforcement’s response.
As investigations continue, attention is turning to the broader role of political messaging and public perception in shaping the response to law enforcement operations—and the potential consequences when those messages lead to unrest.
