On Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents executed a series of high-profile raids across Los Angeles, targeting illegal aliens with severe criminal records. The operations, which took place at multiple business locations, including two Home Depot stores, a store in the fashion district, and a doughnut shop, resulted in the arrest of 45 individuals. Among them were convicted murderers, sex offenders, and other violent criminals, according to DHS. ICE stated that these individuals were described as the ‘worst of the worst’ illegal aliens, emphasizing the gravity of their crimes.
The raids triggered intense protests and confrontations outside the affected locations. Demonstrators clashed with law enforcement, prompting authorities to use flash bangs to disperse the crowd. The protests were fueled by local Democrats, who criticized the Trump administration’s enforcement actions, while DHS officials defended the operations as a necessary measure to ensure public safety. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed frustration with the rioters, questioning why Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass were more concerned with protecting violent criminals than with the safety of their citizens.
Among the arrested individuals was Cuong Chanh Phan, a 49-year-old illegal alien from Vietnam with a history of second-degree murder. According to DHS, Phan shot up a high school graduation party following a dispute, killing an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old, while injuring seven others. Another arrestee, Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez, a 55-year-old from the Philippines, was convicted of burglary, sexual penetration with a foreign object, and assault with intent to commit rape. Lionel Sanchez-Laguna, a 55-year-old Mexican national, was also arrested for multiple offenses, including discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling and committing battery on his spouse or cohabitant.
The arrests included several individuals with extensive criminal histories. Armando Ordaz, a 44-year-old Mexican national, was arrested for sexual battery, receiving known or stolen property, and petty theft. Francisco Sanchez-Arguello, 38, of Mexico, was previously convicted of grand theft larceny and possession of a prohibited weapon. Jose Gregorio Medranda Ortiz, an Ecuadorian national, was arrested for conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine with distribution intent. These cases underscore the agency’s focus on individuals who pose a serious threat to public safety.
DHS officials framed the operations as part of a broader effort to address the issue of criminal illegal immigration. The agency claimed it was working ‘tirelessly’ to remove the ‘worst’ illegal aliens from U.S. streets. The raids, however, sparked criticism from anti-ICE activists, who accused the administration of perpetuating a climate of fear and targeting specific communities. The protests and clashes highlighted the deepening divide between law enforcement and advocacy groups, with the latter arguing that the focus on criminal alien arrests overlooked deeper issues of systemic inequality and social justice.