Council hears accounts of immigration workplace raids; approves motions urging city protections

Los Angeles City Council on Aug. 19 heard lengthy testimony from immigrant-rights groups and residents who said recent workplace and public-site immigration enforcement actions have frightened families and workers across the city. Councilmembers voted to approve motions urging the city to bolster protections and coordinate with community rapid-response networks.

Advocates said the operations often involve men who present as federal agents at job sites, Home Depot parking lots and other public places, sometimes without visible agency identification or court orders. "Hay algo indiscriminativo que está haciendo un ataque indiscriminante contra el gobierno federal, contra los latinos, y está violando... las leyes constitucionales," Angélica Sales, identified at the hearing as executive director of CHIRLA, told the council in Spanish.

Why it matters: Witnesses and advocates said the actions are reducing people's willingness to go to work, disrupting small businesses and creating fear among residents who say they are being stopped or detained regardless of immigration…