Day laborers goal in raid at Santa Ana Residence Depot – NBC Los Angeles

Federal immigration officers appeared to focus on day laborers in raids Monday at a Residence Deport in Santa Ana, leaders in Orange County stated.

One of many males who was detained informed NBCLA he was within the retailer parking zone when brokers arrived and commenced taking day laborers into custody. The 50-year-old man from Peru, the place he stated he owned a enterprise, stated he was detained, however later launched when he produced paperwork proving he was a U.S. asylum seeker.

The person requested to not be recognized on account of security issues.

“I left my county as a result of I used to be getting extorted by Venezuelan gangs,” the person, talking in Spanish, stated by means of an interpreter.

The person stated agent pointed gun and the group, then took a number of into custody in entrance of the shop on MacArthur Boulevard.

“For the primary time I noticed on this nation how they arrived in an aggressive method,” he stated. “I noticed one in every of my associates, went into their automotive, like if they’re about to rob them.”

Day laborers returned to the situation Tuesday, however their numbers had decreased. One other man informed NBCLA they haven’t any alternative in the event that they wish to work.

“We got here right here to have a greater life,” he stated. “We got here right here to see the way it seems. What is the freedom? The American dream.”

The Migration Coverage Institute estimates there are about 236,000 undocumented immigrants dwelling in Orange County.

Later Monday, a number of individuals have been arrested close to the Santa Ana Federal Constructing in reference to a protest. The protest o started with roughly 100 individuals within the afternoon and swelled to at the least 1,000 within the night.

After declaring the rally an illegal meeting, police started to confront crowds. It isn’t clear how many individuals have been arrested, however a number of the protesters have been accused of throwing objects at officers and setting off fireworks.

“We’re conscious that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is presently conducting immigration enforcement motion within the metropolis of Santa Ana. We acknowledge that this information causes concern and uncertainty to many in our neighborhood,” the Santa Ana Police Division stated in an announcement. “We wish to make sure you that the town of Santa Ana is absolutely compliant with the State of California Values Act. The Santa Ana Police Division does NOT and can NOT take part in immigration enforcement efforts.”

The immigration enforcement operation in Santa Ana is one in every of a number of reported through the previous week in Southern California. The raids led to protests, a few of which turned violent in downtown Los Angeles.

President Trump federalized the Nationwide Guard and about 700 Marines have been activated within the federal authorities’s response.