The article discusses the rise of aggressive immigration raids conducted by federal agents in unmarked vehicles, creating significant challenges for local law enforcement. As federal actions become more opaque, police departments find themselves managing the aftermath, including community protests and confusion. Specific incidents, such as a chaotic raid in Bell and an alarming encounter in Pasadena, highlight the tensions arising from these ghostly federal operations. Local officials struggle to maintain trust within immigrant communities and seek clarity on the nature of these federal interventions.
They show up without uniforms. They show up completely masked. They refuse to give ID... Who are these people? And frankly, the vests that they have on look like they ordered them off of Amazon.
The department reviewed surveillance footage... We were able to determine that to the best of our estimation he was an ICE agent. ... We will not look into it any deeper than that.
There's no way for us to verify... the federal enforcement actions are taking place, but often have to deal with the aftermath, including protests and questions from residents.
In Bell, chaos erupted when masked men arrived at a car wash and began detaining its workers, sparking a confrontation with residents and immigration rights advocates.
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