Massive Immigration Raid in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park Sparks Protests

Hundreds of federal agents, backed by military personnel, descended on MacArthur Park in Los Angeles’ Westlake neighbourhood Monday morning, launching one of the largest immigration enforcement operations in the city’s history.

The operation, targeting an area known for heavy MS-13 gang presence, involved U.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback, armoured vehicles, and a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) helicopter, escalating tensions in the immigrant-heavy community.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the raid as “outrageous and un-American”, demanding its immediate halt, but federal authorities, led by Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, pushed forward, signalling more operations to come.

The raid began around 10:30 a.m., with over 100 agents, including 90 California National Guard troops, 17 Humvees, and tactical vehicles sweeping through MacArthur Park, a historic hub for the city’s Mexican and Central American populations.

No arrests were reported, prompting local leaders to call the operation a “political stunt” designed to intimidate rather than detain.

Mayor Bass, arriving at the scene, confronted agents and spoke with Bovino via phone, urging, “You’re getting ready to leave? Can you leave ASAP?” Bovino later told Fox News, “I don’t work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now, because this is going to be normal very soon.”

Protests erupted swiftly, with crowds chanting “Get out!” and waving Mexican and Salvadoran flags.

Reports confirmed a federal vehicle’s tyre was slashed, and objects, including fruit, were thrown at agents’ vehicles, reflecting community outrage.

A video posted by Bass on X showed agents on horseback crossing a soccer field where children had been playing moments earlier, sparking further criticism.

“Minutes before, there were more than 20 kids playing — then, the MILITARY comes through,” Bass wrote, calling the operation a “reality TV spectacle”.

The raid follows weeks of heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration, which recently secured $170 billion for border security.

Local activists, including Ron Gochez of Unión del Barrio, denounced the operation as a fear-mongering tactic, while California Governor Gavin Newsom called it a “message from the polluted heart” of Trump’s policies.

The operation has deepened divisions in Los Angeles, a sanctuary city, with businesses like Fernando Rodriguez’s shop near MacArthur Park reporting significant losses as fear keeps residents away.