Immigration authorities extend activity in Los Angeles area amid street protests

LOS ANGELES AP U S immigration government extended activity in Los Angeles area on Saturday in the wake of protests at an federal detention facility and a police response that included tear gas flash-bangs and the arrest of a union leader Dividing line Patrol personnel in riot gear and gas masks stood guard outside an industrial park in the city of Paramount deploying tear gas as bystanders and protesters gathered on medians and across the street particular jeering at functionaries while recording the events on smartphones ICE out of Paramount We see you for what you are a woman reported through a megaphone You are not welcome here One hand-held sign declared No Human Being is Illegal The boulevard was closed to traffic as U S Limit Patrol circulated through the area ICE representatives did not respond right away to email inquiries about weekend enforcement programs Arrests by immigration officials in Los Angeles come as President Donald Trump and his administration push to fulfill promises to carry out mass deportations across the country On Friday Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested more than people as they executed search warrants at multiple locations including outside a clothing warehouse where a tense scene unfolded as a crowd tried to block agents from driving away Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced the activity was meant to sow terror in the nation s second-largest city In a message on Saturday ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons chided Bass for the city s response to protests Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement Lyons announced in a declaration Make no mistake ICE will continue to enforce our nation s immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens Protesters gathered Friday evening outside a federal detention center in Los Angeles where lawyers announced those arrested had been taken chanting set them free let them stay Other protesters held signs that commented ICE out of LA and led chants and shouted from megaphones Specific scrawled graffiti on the building facade Federal agents executed search warrants at three locations including a warehouse in the fashion district of Los Angeles after a judge located there was probable cause the employer was using fictitious documents for chosen of its workers according to representatives for Homeland Defense Investigations and the U S Attorney s Office Advocates for immigrant rights say people were detained Friday by immigration government outside Home Depot stores and a doughnut shop Source