Key Takeaways
• Over 239 immigrants detained in LA ICE check-ins and operations from May 4-10, with some held in poor basement conditions.
• Southeast Asian immigrants with prior deportation orders are increasingly detained during routine ICE check-ins in Los Angeles.
• Legal rights include remaining silent, asking if free to go, and requiring judicial warrants for home entry by ICE.
Immigrants Detained at ICE Check-Ins in Los Angeles: What’s Happening and Why It Matters
A growing number of immigrants in Los Angeles are being detained during routine ICE check-ins, with some held in the basement of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building. This development has sparked alarm among families, attorneys, and advocacy groups, raising urgent questions about the treatment of detainees, the scope of recent enforcement actions, and the rights of those affected. Here’s what you need to know about the situation, what’s driving these changes, and what it means for immigrants and their loved ones.
What’s Happening at ICE Check-Ins in Los Angeles?
In recent weeks, immigration attorneys and family members have reported that undocumented immigrants attending scheduled ICE check-ins at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles are being detained on the spot. Some are taken to the building’s basement, where they are held—sometimes overnight—in makeshift detention rooms with limited access to food, water, and basic comforts.
Who is being detained?
Those affected include people with pending immigration cases, individuals who have previously received stays of removal (which are supposed to protect them from deportation), and families with children—including U.S. citizen children. In one case, a father with a valid stay of removal was detained along with his pregnant wife and their two children. The family spent the night in a basement room with no beds and little food or water. The mother and children were released the next evening due to her high-risk pregnancy, but the father remained in custody.
How are families responding?
Outside the federal building, relatives have gathered, anxiously waiting for news. Some have received text messages from loved ones being held in the basement. One woman, Maria (not her real name), shared that her brother, his wife, and their two children were detained after a routine check-in, even though they had previously filed for asylum (which was denied in court).
Why is this happening now?
These detentions are part of a larger, nationwide increase in ICE enforcement actions. According to internal government data, ICE arrests during President Trump’s second term have surpassed 100,000 this week, with agents targeting immigrants in courthouses, workplaces, and communities across the United States 🇺🇸.
The Scale and Scope of ICE Operations in Los Angeles
The recent detentions at ICE check-ins are just one part of a broader enforcement push in the Los Angeles area. From May 4 to May 10, ICE conducted a weeklong operation that led to the arrest of 239 people described by the agency as “illegal aliens.” ICE said the operation aimed to “bolster public safety in the greater Los Angeles area” and involved cooperation with several federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, as well as state and local law enforcement.
Where else are arrests happening?
ICE agents have also been seen making arrests at courthouses in downtown Los Angeles and Santa Ana. For example, a Chinese national named Jianhui Wu was detained after leaving a courtroom, even though the judge had granted him more time to find a lawyer. Wu was followed by plainclothes ICE agents, handcuffed in the hallway, and taken down a service elevator. He was later held at the Glendale City Jail.
What about other locations?
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that law enforcement activity was taking place at immigration courts at 300 N. Los Angeles St., but did not provide details, citing safety concerns. Officials suggested these actions are part of efforts to “reverse Biden’s catch-and-release policy,” saying ICE is now placing more people in expedited removal proceedings.
Conditions of Detention: What Are Detainees Facing?
Immigration lawyers and advocates have raised serious concerns about the conditions in which detainees are being held, especially those in the basement of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building.
What are the conditions like?
– Overcrowding: Basement rooms can hold up to 30 people at a time.
– Lack of basic needs: Detainees report limited access to food, water, and beds.
– Family separation: Some families, including those with young children and pregnant women, have been held overnight in these conditions.
Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), called the situation “beyond inhumane treatment,” saying authorities are “literally housing these immigrants in a makeshift detention center, which on its face is illegal.”
Attorney Lizbeth Mateo, who represents several detainees, described the current enforcement as unprecedented: “This is something I’ve never seen before. Under the first Trump administration, I represented clients with very difficult cases, but never anything like this.”
Targeting Southeast Asian Communities
A troubling trend has emerged involving Southeast Asian immigrants in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Many Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese immigrants—who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for years under deportation orders that were previously on hold—are now being detained and, in some cases, deported after attending routine ICE check-ins.
Who are these immigrants?
Most had deportation orders due to past criminal convictions but were allowed to stay in the country as long as they checked in regularly with ICE and stayed out of trouble. As of 2024, about 15,100 Cambodians, Laotians, and Vietnamese nationals were living in this situation across the United States 🇺🇸, according to the Asian Law Caucus.
What’s changed?
Immigration attorneys report a sharp rise in detentions among this group. One lawyer said, “In the past two weeks, I’ve gotten more phone calls than I have in the past 15 years or longer, because people are getting arrested.” There seems to be no clear pattern as to who is being targeted for removal and who is not.
The Role of Glendale City Jail in ICE Detention
The Glendale City Jail has become a key site for ICE detentions in Southern California. The city has a long-standing contract with ICE to house noncriminal detainees, which allows federal agents to sidestep California’s “sanctuary” laws that limit local cooperation with immigration enforcement.
How does this work?
– Capacity: The jail has 96 beds, but the exact number of ICE detainees is unclear.
– Legal compliance: Glendale officials say the contract complies with California’s Senate Bill 54, which made the state the first “sanctuary state” in the nation.
– Recent activity: At least two people were confirmed to have been placed in the jail by ICE in the past week.
Annette Ghazarian, a spokesperson for Glendale, explained, “Glendale has a contract with ICE, and yes, on occasion, ICE detainees will be given bed space at our facility.” The recent surge in detentions has likely strained the system, forcing officials to look for alternative detention options.
Legal Rights and Resources for Immigrants
For those worried about ICE encounters—whether at check-ins, homes, or in the community—advocacy groups stress the importance of knowing your rights:
Key rights include:
– The right to remain silent: You do not have to answer questions about where you were born or how you entered the United States 🇺🇸.
– The right to ask, “Am I free to go?” If ICE says yes, you can leave. If not, you can remain silent and ask to speak with a lawyer.
– Protection against warrantless searches: ICE cannot search your belongings without your consent.
– Home protection: ICE cannot enter your home without a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge (not just an ICE officer) that lists your correct name and address.
– The right not to sign anything without legal advice.
Advocacy groups also warn that ICE agents may pretend to be local police to gain entry to homes. If you are unsure, ask to see a warrant and check that it is signed by a judge.
For more information on your rights during encounters with ICE, you can visit the official ICE website.
Broader Context: Why Are ICE Operations Increasing?
The recent wave of detentions and deportations appears to be part of a broader policy shift under President Trump’s second term. Internal government data shows that ICE arrests have topped 100,000 this week, reflecting a sharp increase in enforcement efforts nationwide.
What’s driving this change?
– Policy shift: The Department of Homeland Security says ICE is now “following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.”
– Detention expansion: There are now 30% more ICE detention facilities than there were in October 2024, according to recent tracking data.
– State vs. federal conflict: California lawmakers are pushing new bills to protect immigrants in semi-public spaces, such as homeless shelters, highlighting ongoing tension between state and federal approaches to immigration enforcement.
Implications for Stakeholders
For immigrants and families:
The risk of detention at routine ICE check-ins has increased, even for those with valid stays of removal or pending legal cases. Families may be separated, and children—including U.S. citizens—can be caught up in enforcement actions.
For attorneys and advocates:
Legal professionals are seeing a surge in calls for help, especially from Southeast Asian communities. Many are working overtime to provide emergency legal assistance and to challenge the legality of detention practices.
For local governments:
Cities like Glendale are under pressure to explain their contracts with ICE and to balance compliance with state sanctuary laws and federal demands.
For the broader community:
The escalation in ICE operations has created fear and uncertainty among immigrant communities, leading some to avoid check-ins or public spaces where they might encounter law enforcement.
What Should Immigrants Do Now?
If you or a loved one is required to attend an ICE check-in, consider the following steps:
- Consult an immigration attorney before your appointment. They can help you understand your risks and options.
- Prepare a safety plan with your family. Make sure someone knows where you are and how to reach you.
- Know your rights and carry a rights card with you.
- Do not sign any documents without first speaking to a lawyer.
- If detained, ask to speak to an attorney and do not answer questions about your immigration status or how you entered the country.
For official forms, such as a stay of removal, you can find the Form I-246, Application for Stay of Removal on the ICE website.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Immigration Enforcement in Los Angeles?
As ICE operations continue to intensify in Los Angeles and across the United States 🇺🇸, the situation remains fluid. Immigration attorneys and advocates are mobilizing to provide support, while lawmakers debate new protections for immigrants. The expansion of detention facilities and the use of unconventional spaces—like the basement of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building—signal a system under strain and a policy environment in flux.
Key takeaways:
– Detentions at ICE check-ins are increasing, with some immigrants held in poor conditions.
– Families, including children and pregnant women, are being affected.
– Southeast Asian communities are seeing a sharp rise in detentions.
– Legal rights remain critical—know them and use them.
– The broader policy shift under President Trump is driving these changes.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the current enforcement wave highlights the urgent need for clear information, legal support, and community resources for those affected by ICE operations in Los Angeles and beyond.
If you or someone you know is impacted by these developments, reach out to a trusted immigration attorney or advocacy group for help. Staying informed and prepared is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones during this challenging time.
Learn Today
ICE check-ins → Scheduled meetings where immigrants report to ICE to confirm their status and comply with immigration rules.
Stay of removal → A temporary legal order preventing an immigrant’s deportation while their case is reviewed.
Expedited removal → A fast-track deportation process that limits immigration hearings for certain individuals.
Sanctuary laws → State or local policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Detention facility → A place where immigrants are held while undergoing immigration proceedings or awaiting deportation.
This Article in a Nutshell
Los Angeles ICE check-ins increasingly detain immigrants, including families in harsh basement conditions. Southeast Asian communities face rising arrests. Legal experts warn about rights and advise legal counsel. This shift in enforcement marks a troubling trend for immigrant protections amid nationwide rising ICE operations during 2024.
— By VisaVerge.com
