U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has expanded enforcement in sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles, drawing concern and pushback from local communities. Raids have intensified after a Supreme Court ruling allowing broader enforcement across seven Southern California counties.
According to the Associated Press on September 16, ICE launched Operation Patriot 2.0 earlier this month in Boston, widening arrests to commute routes, courthouses, store parking lots, and swimming pools. Immigrant rights groups report ICE agents stationed at public places and parking lots increasingly targeting work vehicles. At Saugus Town Hall, agents broke car windows and arrested three landscapers. Rising fears led Everett to cancel Hispanic Heritage Month festivities.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit against the City of Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu, arguing that sanctuary policies obstruct enforcement. Trisha McLaughlin, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said, “This operation is aimed at pursuing sex offenders, drug traffickers, and violent criminals. Sanctuary policies shield criminals and endanger citizens.” Federal officials said operations will extend across sanctuary jurisdictions in Massachusetts, and signaled potential deployment of the Illinois National Guard to Chicago. The Trump administration had previously announced tougher actions against sanctuary cities, prompting concern in California, including Los Angeles.
In Southern California, ICE activity has escalated. At a strip mall parking lot in Van Nuys, armed agents swarmed vehicles. Three months earlier, agents blocked a woman’s car during her morning commute in Downtown Los Angeles. Most recently, nine workers were arrested at car washes in Bixby Knolls (Long Beach) and on Bristol Street (Santa Ana). Some detainees had legal status but were held after failing to present documents at the scene. Earlier, a car wash in Koreatown was raided and five workers were taken into custody by heavily armed agents. These incidents form part of the broader ICE immigration raids now seen across public spaces.
The Supreme Court ruling effectively allows ICE agents to rely on limited indicators—such as speaking Spanish, certain occupations, or appearance—as grounds for stops and detention under a “reasonable suspicion” standard. Experts note that Operation Patriot 2.0, coupled with the ruling, is pushing enforcement beyond specific industries or locations into everyday public places. They warn that immigrant communities could face heightened, widespread anxiety as the ICE immigration raids continue.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
