Several Los Angeles councilmembers confirmed that federal immigration agents carried out unannounced operations in their council districts Friday morning.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez said she’d received reports about “aggressive immigration raids” in her district. She didn’t provide details, but images from a KCAL helicopter showed what appeared to be federal agents in the area of Pico-Union.
“The stories we're hearing are heartbreaking and indefensible,” Hernandez said. “When we fought to make Los Angeles a sanctuary city last year, it's because this is what we feared. We feared for our neighbors, for our families, for our children, families being ripped apart.”
Councilmember Imelda Padilla told KNX News’ Craig Fiegener she’s been holding education meetings to advise people on what to do if approached by someone claiming to be a federal officer.
“The first thing they need to do is not share anything. They have the right to remain silent. But what is very real is the fear,” she said. “We are hearing from our retailers that people are not showing up to shop, people are not showing up to laundromats.”
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During Friday’s city council meeting, which took place at the Van Nuys City Hall location, around 200 young people gathered down the street to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
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