Los Angeles just got a wake-up call from federal immigration authorities. A weeklong crackdown netted over 100 migrants, some with serious criminal records, stirring up protests and a few bruised egos among the progressive crowd. Turns out, enforcing the law can ruffle feathers.
Fox News reported that federal agents swept through Los Angeles, targeting businesses like Home Depot stores, a fashion district shop, and even a doughnut joint, arresting nearly 45 people in a single day.
The operation, which wrapped up last week, focused on unauthorized migrants, including those with rap sheets for assault and drug crimes. It’s a bold move in a city that often rolls out the welcome mat for all.
Some of those nabbed weren’t just here without papers—they’d racked up convictions for everything from burglary to cocaine trafficking. One man, deported to Mexico after his arrest at Home Depot, probably didn’t expect his shopping trip to end with a one-way ticket south. Actions, as they say, have consequences.
Protests kicked off as soon as the sweeps began, with demonstrators clashing with federal agents in riot gear.
The unrest grew so heated that President Donald Trump called in the California National Guard on Saturday to keep the peace. Some folks think law enforcement is optional.
Among the chaos, David Huerta, president of SEIU California, found himself in handcuffs, charged with impeding a federal agent. His arrest during the protests suggests that even union bosses aren’t above the law, no matter how loudly they object. A little humility might go a long way here.
Agents didn’t just show up randomly—they had warrants, like one for a fashion district warehouse where a judge suspected fake documents were in play. Employers using shady paperwork to hire unauthorized workers? Shocking, but not exactly new.
Several of those arrested had criminal records that read like a rap sheet from a crime drama. Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez, 55, from the Philippines, served time for burglary and a 37-year sentence for sexual assault crimes in California. This isn’t the kind of resume you want crossing the border.
Jose Gregorio Medranda Ortiz, 42, from Ecuador, was deported after serving over 11 years for cocaine trafficking in Florida.
Meanwhile, Armando Ordaz, 44, a suspected member of the Bratz 13 gang, has a history of sexual battery and theft convictions in Los Angeles. These aren’t victimless crimes, folks.
Victor Mendoza-Aguilar, 32, another alleged gang member, was arrested with priors including assault with a deadly weapon and drug charges. He’d already been removed from the U.S. once in 2017, yet here he was again. Recidivism isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a problem.
Delfino Aguilar-Martinez, 51, from Mexico, landed in custody with a conviction for assault causing great bodily injury. Jesus Alan Hernandez-Morales, 26, also from Mexico, was deported Saturday after serving time for smuggling migrants in New Mexico. The revolving door of crime and deportation keeps spinning.
Lionel Sanchez-Laguna, 55, arrested earlier in the week, had a laundry list of convictions, including assault with a firearm and spousal battery. His rap sheet stretches across Orange County, proving that trouble doesn’t stay in one zip code. Law enforcement’s got its hands full.
The operation’s scope—over 100 arrests in a week—shows the feds mean business. Targeting businesses that might be skirting immigration laws sends a clear message: Hire legally, or face the heat. It’s a policy that’s long overdue for some.
Not every migrant arrested was a hardened criminal, and that’s worth noting. Some were simply caught in the net of a system trying to restore order. But when the law’s ignored, everyone pays the price—citizens and migrants alike.
The protests miss the mark when they defend unchecked immigration over public safety. Criminals hiding among the unauthorized don’t do any favors for those seeking a better life, the right way. A little discernment could clear up the confusion.
