Federal immigration agents conducted a raid near San Pedro Mart in Los Angeles on June 9, escalating enforcement efforts in an area known for its Korean American garment businesses, despite ongoing protests and opposition from immigrant rights groups.
Around 9:30 a.m., approximately ten agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were seen near the marketplace, located close to downtown LA. The agents reportedly visited several businesses to conduct field interviews and inquiries.
As word of the raid spread, tension quickly rose among business owners and employees. Several shops closed early, and some workers were sent home.
A source who asked not to be named said, “Six or seven out of ten agents left shortly after arrival, while the rest stayed around the area. It’s unclear whether they were conducting surveillance or a search.” Another Korean American business operator said they heard rumors of an inspection and shut down their store as a precaution.
A Latino employee at a nearby store said he heard from friends that ICE agents were also spotted that morning at San Pedro Street and 23rd Street, as well as near Washington Boulevard and Central Avenue. He expressed concern about the growing presence of immigration authorities.
Elsewhere that morning, immigration agents were also seen in Huntington Park, a neighborhood with a large Latino labor population. According to KTLA, multiple Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles were observed in the Home Depot parking lot and along Slauson Avenue, where agents reportedly transferred from trucks into unmarked SUVs. A spokesperson for the City of Huntington Park said ICE agents arrived in the area around 7:30 a.m., and vehicles were also spotted in nearby Maywood.
These actions are part of a broader crackdown unfolding across Southern California, even amid growing pushback from advocacy organizations. The increased activity aligns with a statement made by Representative Nanette Barragán, a Democratic member of Congress, who told CNN on June 8 that a 30-day period of intensified immigration enforcement had been planned for the region.
Meanwhile, Ambiance, a Korean American-owned clothing store in Koreatown that had been previously targeted in a June 6 raid, reopened for regular business.
Back in Huntington Park, day laborers and street vendors returned to the streets near Home Depot, waiting for work. However, the atmosphere remained tense.
“I couldn’t work for three days. I know it’s risky, but I need to make a living,” said one Latino worker. Some reacted defensively when approached by unfamiliar people, asking, “Are you police?” or saying, “If you’re not here to help, get lost.”
Their cautious return to the job market highlights the difficult reality many workers now face under heightened enforcement pressure.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
