The Antelope Valley Times

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Activists decry immigration enforcement raids

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LOS ANGELES – Federal immigration authorities confirmed Friday they arrested about 160 foreign nationals in a series of Southern California raids carried out over the past week targeting “criminal aliens” and others in the country illegally, but activists and some elected officials criticized the actions and offered support to affected immigrants.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the raids were carried out in six Southern California counties beginning Monday and ending around noon Friday. The operations targeted “at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration fugitives.”

ICE officials said about 150 of the people arrested had criminal histories, while five others had “final orders of removal or had been previously deported.” They noted that many of those arrested had prior felony convictions for violent offenses including sex crimes, weapons charges and assault, and some will be referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution for re-entering the country illegally.

Details were not provided on the remaining people arrested, but ICE noted that during some raids, officers “frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of the federal immigration laws. Those persons will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE.”

The raids prompted an outcry that began Thursday afternoon from local immigrant-rights activists, who suggested the actions were a result of a stepped-up enforcement effort under the Donald Trump presidential administration, which has vowed to crack down on illegal immigrations and people living in the United States without authorization.

Officials with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles created a toll-free hotline — (888) 624-4752 — for affected immigrants to call for assistance and obtain access to attorneys. The group also began offering hourly training sessions to inform illegal immigrants about their legal rights.

One woman, Marlene Mosqueda, told reporters Friday morning her father was taken away Thursday by authorities who weren’t wearing clothing identifying them as ICE officers, and he was deported.
“They took my parents away,” she said. “They took my family away.”

ICE officials insisted, however, that while the raids represented an enforcement “surge,” they were “no different than the routing, targeted arrests carried out by ICE’s Fugitive Operations Teams on a daily basis.”

“The rash of recent reports about purported ICE checkpoints and random sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible,” according to ICE. “These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Individuals who falsely report such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support.”

But some elected officials criticized the immigration actions.

“President Trump has already ignited widespread fear and confusion in our immigrant communities with his executive order and divisive campaign rhetoric,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. “If the reports are accurate, these raids only add to the anxiety about what’s to come from this administration.”
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73 comments for "Activists decry immigration enforcement raids"

  1. One time I heard someone saying they had a lot of birth certificates, and I called crimestoppers while the person was still there, and they acted like they didn’t care and put me on hold and never came back on the phone. I had to leave so I had to hang up. I dont know what happened with that. Do they care?????

    • Since crimestoppers generally has crimes with actual victims that they have to deal with that are in their jurisdiction a citizen ranting about a low budget forged document operation is likely to be low on their priority list.

  3. FYI,
    Lots of people cannot come here liegaly due to the corupted political process on some countries, so this is the reason some make the HARD choice to make the trip ilegally.
    I came here ilegally as well, started working, paid taxes and paid my share to the comunity.
    I’m now a proudly USA citezen making 75,000 per year, more than most of the racist people commenting here make, and I didnt “steal” the job from.any hard woking legal citizen, itbis call going to school and prepare for a better life!
    Happy Valentine’s to all (legal or.ilega)

  4. Why not talking about the criminals on Ave I and 10th west?
    Oh because they are American citizens?
    Lots of people (most of them.racist) think only ilegals are the ones that commit crimes..
    Also go to any fast food restaurant where you will find the tyoe of people that work there making minimum wages, (not ilegals thats for sure) and these workers are there on their own will not because “ilegals” took the other better paying jobs!

  5. So sick of simple minded idiots seeing everything through the lens of race

    Liberalism truly is a mental disorder.

  6. … against the Mexicans, American citizens are defenseless. Armed American’s best made automatic weapons, thanks to Barack Obama’s operation Fast ‘n Furious, when Mexico inevitably moves to annex the Southwestern United States, they’ll cut through New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California like a hot knife through butter, much like Pancho Villa did. Such is the rate of fire of just one of those Fast & Furious assault rifles, in the hands of 4 well-armed, properly trained, properly motivated anti-gringo Mexicans, could sanitize an entire residential subdivision, in less than 5 minutes. Armed an endless cache of the best American made military rifles money can buy, in just one day, with direct assistance of 2 million illegals burrowed into our Southern California sanctuary cities, in less than 24 hours the entire Southwestern United States could be annexed and fall, under complete control of Mexican insurgents. And, all the gringo men and boys would be lined-up against the wall, summarily executed, Mexican style. Renamed Mexifornia, our mothers, wives and daughters would then be subjugated, to serve as American comfort women for the Mexican Federales, and the Mexican gang-bangers –

  7. I think it’s funny that all of these people have something to say about “come here the right way” what is the right way? Because i’m pretty sure none of the people making comments like that are of indian decent. Therefore, need to go back amd study this so called American history. We are all immigrants really. And we didn’t do things the right way when we basically took this land. So maybe, while we are talking about doing things the right way they already are. We didn’t take into.consideration the people we took this land from. Why should anybody else. Dont’t get me wrong, im a proud citizen, but fair is fair.people that live in glass houses should’nt throw stones

  8. most of the illegals i know they work they file taxes and they do no harm not on welfare also!! why people always say that illegals are rapist, child molesters have you people seen the news most of the rapist, child moleters are white is rare when you see an illegal commiting this crimes and anytime you see an hispanic last name it doesn’t
    meant they’re illegal check you records before you speak!!!!!

    • Faith, when they work and “file taxes” you do realize that they’ve stolen somebody else’s social security, right? Most claim “exempt” or many dependents so they don’t pay in to taxes, get a large refund and end up completely screwing over the citizen that the social security number belongs to.

      It has happened to two of my employees, born and raised in the US and an illegal alien stole their name and social security number to use for a job. It took a few years for the IRS to catch on but by then we were sent garnishment notices from the IRS and it took out employees a few years to fix the damage done. They were using the social for medical coverage too and ran up medical bills.

      So the notion that they “do no harm” is a myth.

      • For your information they file taxes the correct way the IRS issues them what they call an itin number so they can file taxes the legal way if you was not aware of that call the IRS and ask them

  9. i WILL TRY AND COMMENT AGAIN EVEN THOUGH FOR SOME REASON MY COMMENT WAS DELETED. Glad to see them rounding up these bad guys and hopefully sending them back where they came from. I have nothing against anybody wanting to come to our country to make a better life for themselves if they do it legally. Come here with your passport, get your green card, contribute to your community in positive ways. But if you want to come here and freeload, and behave poorly and do illegal things, you do not deserve to be here!

  10. I harbor no ill will for any people. I’m in favor of the rule of law, and taking care of Americans for a change….

    What about American Dreamers?
    Stolen jobs…
    Stolen Identities…
    Stolen Services…

    Illegal immigrants, jumped the line, screwing law abiding residency applicants….

  11. I heard that there will be AV raids at day laborer hangouts and construction sites this coming week… It’s about time

    • Why is it “about time”? What harm have those people done you that you wish them ill? Or are you just always happy when bad things happen to other people?

      • If they are targeting more of the same felons, sex offenders, and child molesters, then they’ve already done harm to somebody else.
        Why would you want those bad hombres here, illegally, when you can identify and deport them?

        • Big “if” there Foolco. Spanky wants them targeting day laborers and construction workers, not “bad hombres.” That’s why I asked HIM. As for you, go polish your daddy’s baton and stay out of conversations that are apparently moving faster than you can keep up with.

        • Immigrants used to come here to be Americans. Recent immigrants want, and receive, concessions, and tax payer goodies…. All on the back of the working American.

          Job market flooded with low skilled, cheap labor….undermining the bargaining position of some poor slob with 2 kids and a wife.

          I harbor no ill will.

          I want good things for the good people of who come in here illegally….as I do for Americans. I want people who don’t follow the rules…don’t follow the law….to apply legally…nothing more.

          • The job market “flooded” with low skilled cheap labor is your concern? Then DEVELOP SOME SKILLS.

            By the way, unemployment is as low as it has been in forever…at the level that most people agree is pretty much the frictional unemployment floor. Among the skills you should start out seeking is the one that makes you get actual information instead of just accepting whatever fearful submission inducing bad news you are fed.

          • that’s a lie even illegals file taxes did you know that? they dont live of peoples back like you say,they’re not on welfare either because they prefer to work than lower themselves to that!
            they work hard to support their familes also !

        • I harbor no ill will for any people. I’m in favor of the rule of law, and taking care of Americans for a change….

          What about American Dreamers?
          Stolen jobs…
          Stolen Identities…
          Stolen Services…

          Jumped the line, screwing law abiding residency applicants….

          According to FairUS.org

          “Twenty-five billion dollars a year in costs associated with illegal immigration represents a fiscal crisis that affects California’s ability to meet its basic obligations to citizens and legal residents”, said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. “While clearly the Federal government bears responsibility for its failure, or refusal, to enforce our immigration laws, in California’s case many of the burdens of illegal immigration are self-induced.

          “Despite overwhelming evidence that illegal immigration represents an unsustainable fiscal burden to the state, the California Legislature and local governments across the state continue to provide new benefits, new services, and new privileges to illegal aliens, even as the state neglects the needs and concerns of other Californians. The costs will continue to grow so long as the state continues to reward illegal immigration and impedes immigration enforcement. California taxpayers will continue to be the losers in this unhappy scenario,” concluded Stein.

          • LOL…”according to FairUS.org…”

            Why didn’t you just jump straight to Stormwatch, or the Ku Klux Klan website?

            If you want to fill your head with fake news and nonsense no one can stop you, but please stop trying to vomit it on the rest of us.

      • Some (many?) immigrants aren’t assimilating. Some (many?) immigrants are not learning to speak English. Some (many?) immigrants don’t even like us….or our great Country.

    • Well that is going to be wonderful I love it let’s just hope it works and they clean up all of Antelope Valley
      and get these freaks that are collecting welfare and working at the same time

      • So what about the white trailer trash meth heads that collect welfare and scam the system your saying it is ok, ? As long as they are not immagrants . Its racist jerks like you that need to be the ones who are deported in order for the av to be a better place stupid fool

        • We would love to deport them too. Unfortunately we can’t, but if you can figure out a way to, let’s do it.

          • Demonstrating that the idea behind your support of deportation has nothing to do with laws or citizenship, it’s just your way of using a big stick to eliminate people you don’t like. Here’s a thought, have the guts to do it yourself instead of kowtowing to a bigger bully.

      • I thought I was a unicorn when I collected PARTIAL welfare while working full time and raising my kids while also going to school part time. You know of others?! Incredible!

  12. I wouldn’t be too excited of trumps actions. You guys say he has BALLS. But I bet all u guys saying crap are all welfare lowlifes. But don’t forget he also said he will take those benefits away. Hahaha so y’all lazy asses are going to get your fat ass to look for work. Wait but than again u might just end up in the streets like all the lazy people begging for money in ever freaken place u go.

    • Yes tired of all these people we have to feed for free cause they don’t like working but yea they talk [removed] of the hard working people. The AMERICANS all depend on cash aid and food stamps. I guess that will end soon yeeey so

    • He actually is making up “laws” as he goes, not enforcing them. But since over half of Trump voters in a recent survey favored giving him dictatorial powers I guess that’s just to be expected.

      How about you Ron? Are you with the majority and looking forward to a Trump dictatorship?

      • Luckily ICE is enforcing the laws we have. This raid, per ICE, was scheduled before trump took office but it is nice to have these “bad hombres” rounded up.

        These activists are looking foolish complaining about felons, rapists and child molestors being deported. It just shows they aren’t the least bit interested in any common sense immigration enforcement.

        • LOL…as if a Foolco was interested in “common sense” law enforcement. Foolcos are about “bow to the badge, law be damned” and have been for a full generation.

        • California ICE is at least talking to people and letting us know more. In other states there are reports of deporting much more minor criminals that were on the track to become citizens if they kept noses clean.

        • So why are judges looking at his product and saying “yeah, that conflicts with current law, try again”? He’s not only making up laws, he’s not doing it very well.

          • “We have a judiciary that has taken far too much power and become in many cases a supreme branch of government. Our opponents, the media and the whole world will soon see as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned.”

            Stephen Miller

            Apparently the Trump administration isn’t very interested in this “rule of law” business.

            By the way, a survey of Trump voters indicates that more than half of them support “Trump should be allowed to overturn court decisions he disagrees with.”

      • Hey tim, in case you didn’t know, Trump IS the president. You can interpret the law any way YOU want, but the constitution overrules you. Read it.

        • LOL…what does Dingbat Donny being the president have to do with his half witted fans thinking that he should be able to overturn court decisions as he sees fit? Nice to see you taking an interest in the issue, but try to catch up.

    • Hey, Ron

      We have a so-called ‘president’ who flouts the rules when they apply to him and he’s your guy.

      You likely have the same level of integrity as he does, if that.

      • NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO COME RUNNING ACROSS THE BORDER. RULES R RULES. The law says ICE has the right to pick up, and deport people. If they are not here legally. We have a right to enforce our immigration laws.

        • ICE certainly “has a right.” In fact they have a responsibility. I’m not employed by them. Are you?

          Also, note that among the MANY responsibilities that ICE has, picking up and deporting people who have committed no crime other than illegal entry should be among the very lowest priorities, not the highest. On the other hand, making sure that they don’t harass US citizens because “well they are brown so they might be undocumented” is also their responsibility, and should be among their HIGHEST priorities.

  15. please roll ICE thru the AV, add in 2nd generation anchors as well, this area is infested and needs a good raid

    • “2nd generation anchors”? Oh, you mean US Citizens?

      Read the Constitution lately? No? Neither has Trump.

      • Like most Trump supporters he talks about “illegals” but what he wants is “get rid of brown people because they aren’t like me.”

          • Don’t need one. His position is pretty obvious from the use of words like “infested” and the fact that he wants even second generation born citizens removed.

            Tell me Ralph, what is it about this position that is so attractive to you that you feel compelled to defend it?

      • unfortunately the 2nd generation are citizens, it would be nice to recall the birth certificates on them, but sadly we won’t, and I’m not a Trump supporter, but am a Cali girl that has watched these people ruin this beautiful state.. and hey, send back the undocumented irish too, I really don’t care, Illegal is just that and they should have no rights here at all.. I’m tired of their DUI’s, wife beating, social security identity thieving a## es .. so time to drain the swap that is the AV..

        • Time to pick up stakes and move to that golden Republican idyll that is Appalachia. They’ve been anti-immigrant insular nationalists there since the Hatfields and the McCoys and have maintained a pristine Republican environment where you should fit right in. Dirt poor, no health care, leaching welfare while complaining about the government…what more could a nationalist want?

        • what these people did or do to ruin this beatufill state? the dui’s i have read in he news granted maybe one or two illegas but most of them are us citizens or legal residents the welfare visit the office and look what you see around you only see poor white trash and african americans a few spanish (legal residents because those are the only onesallowed to get aid)check your facts before you speak !

    • You f’n ignorant bastard. They should get rid of idiots based on IQs, betcha you would be on the first bus. The crap people type!

    • The av is crap because it has nothing but a bunch of kkk racist skin heads idiots like you once we get rid of you all will be fine smh

  16. I always knew I lived amongst racists, there was always a sense of “you are not welcome”. You are at Church, schools, workplaces, streets, stores, homes. Your hypocrisy, your stares, your hate, your envy, and now your violent words are not hidden. We see your inherent vitriol rotten hatred. You don’t hide. everything you think, say or do is on record. You are cowards festering away in your own hate that will one day have tremendous consequence when you face your maker. Laugh now about people that are persecuted unfairly. For your day of persecution will come, and I pray for your soul and those of your descendants because everything you do to others, you will need to experience yourself as a consequence. God never ceases to amaze me. He always overturns evil. It’s just a matter of patience.

  17. I always knew I lived amongst racists, there was always a sense of “you are not welcome”. You are at Church, schools, workplaces, streets, stores, homes. Your hypocrisy, your stares, your hate, your envy, and now your violent words are not hidden. We see your inherent vitriol rotten hatred. You don’t hide. everything you think, say or do is on record. You are cowards festering away in your own hate that will one day have tremendous consequence when you face your maker. Laugh now about people that are persecuted unfairly. For your day of persecution will come, and I pray for your soul and those of your descendants because everything you do to others, you will need to experience yourself as a consequence. God never ceases to amaze me. He always overturns evil. Every evil has its end, and thank God for that.

    • I must admit, HA HA, that you are correct. Trump does, indeed, have BALLS..

      Unfortunately, he is clearly lacking in BRAINS (as well as: ethics, honor, attention span, knowledge, learning capacity, etc., etc.).

  19. Good job cleaning up the trash! I am all for folks who come here legally, to have a better life. If they want to work hard, and contribute to their community in a positive way, great! I am also all for deporting the ones who come here to cause trouble and break our laws and spit in our face!

  20. … indeed, the ICE people cometh, to hunt down the largest, most thankless, most lawless free-riding illegal immigrant population in human history, residing in the largest, most lawless sanctuary city in human history, world capitol of the Southern California street gang, metropolitan Los Angeles –

  21. 150 of them had criminal records like that its kinda hard to feel bad for them getting deported the illegals that are here that have no criminal records should be allowed to stay but with criminal records like them they should be deported to keep the community safe