ICE Agents Confront LA Traffic Officer at Home, Hesitate to Show Warrant
Federal agents conducting a planned immigration crackdown in Los Angeles County were reportedly reluctant to show a full warrant while targeting a city traffic officer’s home.
The operation, which was expected to detain 120 people, fell short—only 12 individuals were taken into custody at LA’s Metropolitan Detention Center, despite additional staffing being called in at taxpayers’ expense, according to the Los Angeles Times.
One of the targets was the father-in-law of Felipe Espinoza, a 56-year-old LA traffic officer. Espinoza was in the middle of a workout when half a dozen agents arrived at his home, demanding entry. With his wife and young child inside, he refused to let them in without seeing a proper warrant.
The agents presented what they claimed was a three-page warrant but only allowed Espinoza to see the first page.
“They were hesitant about showing me the warrant,” he told the LA Times, noting that it lacked a seal. “What it did clearly say was ‘illegal alien.’”
Despite the buildup, the highly anticipated crackdown resulted in minimal arrests, raising questions about the operation’s execution and cost to taxpayers.
LA Traffic Officer Stunned as ICE Agents Arrive, Protesters Confront Federal Raid
When Felipe Espinoza saw the words “illegal alien” on the document presented by federal agents outside his home, he immediately realized it was an immigration issue.
“It happened so fast,” the 56-year-old LA traffic officer said. “I was taken aback, really.”
As agents demanded entry, a nearby activist with a loudspeaker warned Espinoza not to open the door without a judge-signed warrant.
“Do not talk to them if they do not have a warrant,” the person announced.
Meanwhile, protesters trailing the agents began chanting, calling them “kidnappers” and “terrorists” while repeating, “Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE.”
LA residents had been on high alert after the Los Angeles Times revealed documents suggesting a large-scale immigration raid was planned for the weekend. However, the operation ultimately resulted in just 12 arrests, far below the expected 120.
Similar immigration crackdowns have been carried out under Donald Trump’s administration in cities like Chicago, New Jersey, and New York. The Independent has reached out to ICE for comment.