Immigration raids pick up in L.A. as federal tactics shift. Arrests happen in ‘as fast as 30 seconds’

Los Angeles Times ^ | Jan. 29, 2026 12:18 PM PT | Ruben Vives, Karen Garcia and Hailey Wang

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The focus of immigration raids has turned away from Los Angeles and shifted to Chicago and Minnesota but arrests in L.A. have continued, with federal agents deploying new tactics. Federal agents are moving faster, making it difficult for immigration activists to respond before the targets are whisked away, organizers and activists say.

At a recent training session for 300 immigration activists in Los Angeles, the main topic was Minnesota and the changes to federal immigration tactics.

For the last few months, federal law enforcement officers have intensified their efforts to locate and deport immigrants suspected of living in the country illegally. They have used children as bait, gone door-to-door and at times forcibly stormed into people’s homes without judicial warrants.

But it was the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens protesting immigration raids in Minnesota, that sparked a growing backlash of the federal government’s aggressive actions and caused activists to reconsidering their own approach when monitoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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“One quick note about de-escalation,” Joseline Garcia, the Community Defense director for City Council District 1, told a crowd at St. Paul’s Commons in Echo Park. “What we would do when it came to de-escalation is we’d tell people their rights, try to get their information and try to reason with the ICE agents and pressure them to leave.”

“Things have changed a ton in the past two months, so that’s not something we’re willing to put you all at risk to do,” she added. “There is risk here and we are always encouraging people to stay safe and please constantly be assessing the risks.”

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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: california; haileywang; joselinegarcia; karengarcia; rubenvives

[PeterPrinciple]

“What we would do when it came to de-escalation is we’d tell people their rights, try to get their information and try to reason with the ICE agents and pressure them to leave.”

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Trumps de-escalation plan is a bit different.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!

[SpaceBar]

Bam! - Chef Emeril Lagasse

[mitchjackson1972]

Whatever special forces nabbed Maduro and got out lickity split needs to be the ones to grab the illegals

[shelterguy]

“””They have used children as bait, gone door-to-door and at times forcibly stormed into people’s homes without judicial warrants””

Sure, Jan.

[DCPatriot]

It’s also a reason the snow removal efforts got failing grades across the map...workers hiding at home?

[Sarah Barracuda]

If all illegals from la county alone got deported the gop would gain five house seats

[lastchance]

“... making it difficult for immigration activists to respond before the targets are whisked away, organizers and activists say.”

ANd the down side of this would be?

[Celtic Conservative]

“Stormed into people’s homes without judicial warrants”.

They have removal orders. It’s an administrative warrant. And has the force of law. So it’s a distinction without a difference.

CC

[CottonBall]

“If all illegals from la county alone got deported the gop would gain five house seats”

So true.

We escaped Mexifornia and moved back to the US. It is a breath of fresh air to hear English. I see people that are respectful in stores and don’t throw merchandise on the floor with kids screaming and grabbing stuff.

People here don’t believe how bad it was. I should’ve taken videos.

[dljordan]

“Joseline Garcia, the Community Defense director for City Council District 1”

Community Defense = Reconquista Defense

[piasa]

Is author Karen Garcia a sister of Jocelyn being quoted? Now that is unbiased reporting.

[rdcbn1]

Heck, if the illegals in LA stopped voting there would be entire precincts with zero voters showing up..

[ridesthemiles]

“WARRANTS NOT NEEDED”

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Wow, lies stacked upon lies stacked upon more lies. Disgraceful.

[unlearner]

Come on man! There's proof:

[jimpick]

“””Heck, if the illegals in LA stopped voting there would be entire precincts with zero voters showing up.”””

And I bet they would still have a record turnout. In after voting day mail in ballets of course.