Relentless immigration raids are changing the way California lives

Jaime Alanis tries to hide when the immigrant agent arrives at the farm where he works.

Mr. Alanis climbs onto the roof of the greenhouse while agents round and arrest dozens of colleagues, but Alanis hopes are gone.

Then he fell down.

He had a broken neck and a broken skull. He later died in the hospital.

Meanwhile, immigrant agents fired tear gas to a crowd of about 500 protesters who gathered to park the raiders outside two legal cannabis farms. Some throw stones, the FBI says One man fired a shot at federal agents.

The death of Alanis and the violent clashes at these cannabis farms are the latest examples of sweeping across Southern California since early June, when immigration raids began to intensify in the region.

The crackdowns sparked protests, which led to U.S. President Donald Trump deploying the National Guard and U.S. Marines to protect federal officers from protesters and ensure that his large-scale deportation that he had long promised was underway.

Although many Americans support Trump’s tough immigration policies, the ruthlessness of the raid in the region has also sparked backlash from neighbors and activists. Southern California is a home of an estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom are forced to hide – too afraid to go to work, schools and even grocery stores.

In this way, the raid changed the landscape of one of the most populous areas of the country. Businesses were closed and the city canceled community events – including the July 4 fireworks celebration.

A recent Sunday, a “Raspado” vendor in Los Angeles said: “Everyone is looking at the shoulders. She seems to be in doubt when she prepares shaved ice with sweet strawberry syrup, but thanks the customers.

“It has never been like this,” she said.

The raid on two marijuana farms has now been touted as the biggest immigration action since Trump took office.

According to media reports, out of the 361 immigrants detained in these attacks, four had “extensive” criminal records, including rape, kidnapping and attempted child harassment. Immigration officials also found 14 immigrant children claiming to be “free from potential exploitation, forced labor and human trafficking.”

While the government often emphasizes that convicted rapists, murderers and drug dealers were arrested in operation, dozens of immigrants — many without criminal convictions who have spent decades building businesses, families and families — have been caught.

“They’re just kidnapping you,” Carlos said, saying he didn’t want to use it for fear that he would be deported to his hometown of Guatemala. He has been scared of going to work since his sister Emma sold tacos outside of Home Depot last month. “If I’m brown, if I’m Hispanic, they’re just here to catch you and take you.”

The Trump administration says people are targeting people because the complexion of skin tones is “annoying” and wrong.

Carlos said he felt safer since the federal government California judge orders Trump administration to stop “indistinguishable” from the “patrol” detainees of federal agents. But he didn’t believe they would stop and he needed to go back to work.

“How will I pay the rent,” he said. “I’m stuck inside.”

Churches and immigration rights groups have been organizing food delivery for hiding people. They have also been training people to protect immigrants on the street using apps, text chains and social media to remind people when nearby federal agents.

Earlier this month, few were surprised when dozens of camouflaged armed agents on horseback and armored vehicles landed on MacArthur Park and armored vehicles.

Words spread quickly the operation – rumored that “La Migra” was a few hours before the troops arrived. Dozens of protesters flocked to greet the troops – including La Mayor Karen Bass, who asked them to leave the park.

Witnesses said no one was arrested and no one saw escape. When the troops arrived – professional camera staff recorded open force – the only people in the park were protesters, some children were in summer camps, and some homeless people fell asleep on the grass.

“It’s been struggling,” Betsy Bolte said.

“It’s a war against the people – the core and soul of the economy. It’s all intentional. It’s part of the plan,” she said.

The radicals accuse the government of intimidating their own people.

“This is part of a terrorist plan. From Los Angeles to the Central Coast, the Trump administration is fighting Californians for the federal government and military weapons,” the advocacy group said.

But not all Californians agree.

Trump won 38% of the vote in November. recent, BBC features a woman’s story Even though she was locked into an illegal immigration, he remains committed to the president and his massive deportation program.

Last week, a lonely Trump supporter appeared at a protest at a cannabis farm where protesters were beaten and laughed and spit.

Ironically, many of Trump’s deportation policy architects themselves are Angeleno. Stephen Miller, a senior White House aide, grew up in the liberal Santa Monica, and even as a teenager, was known on conservative radio for denounced Spanish in school.

He told Fox News this week that protests of “violent” Democratic politicians in California are inciting violence against federal immigration agents.

“No city can help and teach bict against this country on the will of the American people and law enforcement officers who have the right to make the will of the American people,” he said.

Trump’s “Border Tsar” Tom Homan said Los Angeles must blame Los Angeles’ asylum laws prevent local law enforcement from working with immigrants in prisons who can detain immigrant criminals outside the public’s eyes.

“We will double, triple, triple in sanctuary cities, triple in sanctuary cities,” Homan told reporters, adding that they did not have such obvious public attacks in Florida, as all the sheriffs there allowed immigrant agents to go into prison to detain immigrants.

“If they don’t let us arrest bad people in the county jail, they will arrest them in the community. We will arrest them at work.”

In Los Angeles, the impact of the Raid Month is obvious. In the parks and communities that once flourished with shoppers, abortions, music and street vendors, there is no familiar sound that is creepy.

Los Angeles County has 88 cities, many of whom have canceled summer activities due to ongoing immigration enforcement activities.

“Many residents expressed fear and uncertainty that led them to stay indoors, avoid work, and evacuate daily public life,” Huntington Park City said in a statement on the cancellation. “Our priority is and will continue to be the safety and tranquility of our community.

Now, some immigrants are afraid to attend their scheduled hearings because they are detained outside the court.

Pastor Ara Torosian of the cornerstone church in western Los Angeles said that most of his Persian languages were asylum seekers. A couple with their three-year-old daughter were detained outside the court when they believed it was a “routine” hearing. They are now at a family detention center in Texas.

Five of his congregations were detained in June – the Torrosian pastor photographed and begged agents to stop, two of them were detained on the street.

“Not criminals,” he said. “They are obeying everything, not hiding anything.”