James Battles ICE Raids: LA Residents Living in Fear

LOS ANGELES, CA – Federal immigration enforcement in Los Angeles has devolved into a reign of terror, according to a coalition of 17 state Attorneys General led by New York’s Letitia James. The AG’s office filed an amicus brief today in Perdomo v. Noem, urging a federal court to immediately halt what they describe as “unconstitutional” ICE raids that are paralyzing communities and shredding the fabric of daily life.

The brief details a pattern of masked, unmarked federal agents conducting unannounced operations in neighborhoods, schools, churches, and local businesses. Residents, including U.S. citizens, report being unlawfully detained, questioned, and harassed with no reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. The result? A climate of fear so pervasive that local economies are collapsing. Businesses are shuttering, farmers markets are deserted, and even essential services like healthcare are suffering, with hospitals and clinics reporting a surge in cancelled appointments.

“In Los Angeles and nationwide, we are seeing immigration enforcement officers deploy dystopian tactics that are deeply harmful,” Attorney General James stated. “No one should fear being questioned, detained, or deported by unidentified masked agents while taking their child to school, going to work, or attending church. These mass raids are tearing families apart, threatening public safety, and turning once-lively neighborhoods into ghost towns. Federal agents are sowing fear in entire communities, which is why we are urging the court to intervene and stop these unconstitutional raids at once.”

The legal challenge isn’t simply about current practices. The brief meticulously draws a direct line between these ICE tactics and a dark history of discriminatory immigration enforcement in California. Attorney General James and her colleagues point to “Operation Wetback” – the 1954 mass deportation campaign named after an ethnic slur – and the La Placita raids during the Great Depression, where nearly two million Mexican Americans, over half of whom were U.S. citizens, were deported without due process. The brief condemns those actions as “inhumane terror campaigns.”

The Attorneys General argue that the current administration, seemingly prioritizing sheer numbers of arrests over due process, is repeating these historical mistakes. They cite past remarks from the president praising “Operation Wetback” and boasting about exceeding the Eisenhower administration’s deportation record. The implication is clear: the current raids aren’t about legitimate law enforcement, but about fulfilling a politically charged agenda.

Beyond the immediate fear and disruption, the brief argues the federal government’s actions are actively undermining public trust in law enforcement and hindering local services. The coalition warns that the confusion and fear generated by these raids are creating a public health crisis and eroding the foundations of community life. The court’s decision in Perdomo v. Noem will determine whether these tactics are allowed to continue, leaving Los Angeles residents to live under a shadow of constant fear and uncertainty.