In a surprising immigration operation, U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted a raid dubbed "Operation Trojan Horse" in the parking lot of a Home Depot in the Westlake neighborhood. The officers hid inside a rented moving truck and, when the rear door opened, quickly jumped out to arrest several people, including day laborers and street vendors, suspected of being undocumented immigrants.
According to reports, 16 people from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua were arrested. Images posted on social media and in the media show armed officers getting off the truck in front of job seekers at the scene.
The truck's use drew condemnation from Penske Truck Rental, the vehicle's owner, which stated that it had not been informed or authorized to use it in the operation and that it will strengthen its policy to prevent misuse.
The action comes days after a federal appeals court upheld a court order prohibiting indiscriminate immigration enforcement operations in Southern California, especially those based on an individual's language, appearance, location, or employment.
Advocacy groups such as the ACLU, Union del Barrio, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network denounced the operation as racially and labor-promoting. They also warned that it generates fear and threatens legal security in immigrant communities.
The Guatemalan Consulate in Los Angeles confirmed that a Guatemalan national was arrested in the incident and is receiving consular assistance.
So far, Department of Homeland Security officials have not issued a public response regarding the tactics used in this operation. Meanwhile, some federal officials celebrated the raid on social media, raising concerns about possible illegal practices.
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