With the federal government unleashing a battle against immigrants, California is once again at the center of a national clash over immigration — and this time, the battleground is Los Angeles.

Amid a sweeping federal crackdown, reports of masked ICE agents snatching people from courthouses, job sites, and even graduation ceremonies have triggered widespread outrage and a powerful local response. 

In a media briefing on June 27, hosted by American Community Media, a panel of experts gathered to discuss the immigration crackdown from the Trump administration and how California is fighting against it. They described what’s happening as “unconstitutional,” “un-American,” and potentially “the largest federal overreach in modern California history.”

Speakers

  • Rob Bonta, California Attorney General
  • Antonio Villaraigosa, former LA Mayor and Gubernatorial hopeful
  • Jeannette Zanipatin, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
  • Henry Brady, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley

“People Are Vanishing”

Jeanette Zanipatin said the scale and tactics of the Trump administration’s latest immigration enforcement efforts are unlike anything she has seen in nearly 30 years as an immigration attorney.

According to Zanipatin, ICE officers have been detaining immigrants immediately after immigration court hearings — often with no prior notice or warrants — cutting off communication between detainees and their lawyers. “We’re seeing people arrested outside courthouses and USCIS interviews,” she said. “Some leave with representation and still disappear.”

Lawyers attempting to gain access to detention facilities in Los Angeles and Adelanto have been denied entry, including members of Congress such as Rep. Judy Chu. “That’s unprecedented,” Zanipatin noted. “Even congressional oversight has been stonewalled.”

“Masked Men, No Badges”

Perhaps most disturbing are growing reports of masked agents operating without identification. CHIRLA’s rapid response teams have documented agents switching license plates on unmarked vehicles — many with out-of-state tags — raising fears that deputized officers or even private contractors could be involved.

“People have a right to know who’s arresting them,” Zanipatin said. “We’re talking about plainclothes officers, refusing to show badges, behaving violently in broad daylight.”

Two state bills have been introduced to prohibit these anonymous raids, and CHIRLA is pushing for additional legislation requiring law enforcement to identify themselves and ban mask-wearing during immigration operations.

Targeting the Innocent

Data suggests the administration’s justification — that it is targeting violent offenders — does not hold. Roughly 93% of those detained so far have no record of serious or violent crime, and 63–65% have no criminal convictions at all, according to CHIRLA and data cited from the Cato Institute.

“It’s racial profiling,” said Zanipatin. “We’ve even seen U.S. citizens arrested and held in federal custody for days.”

Unprecedented Times

Antonio Villaraigosa, who is running for governor, called the raids “a despicable abuse of power.” Having fought against Proposition 187 and Operation Wetback, Villaraigosa said the scale and methods of today’s actions are more militarized than anything in California’s past.

“I’ve seen flashbangs used on gardeners, Marines showing up at schools, people dragged from courthouses,” he said. “I grew up fighting for civil rights — but this is a different beast.”

He praised peaceful protests but stressed the need for legal challenges and community organizing. “You can’t physically stop federal enforcement, but you can fight it in court and in the streets — with people power.”

The Economic Fallout

Henry Brady warned that the raids, combined with budget cuts and tariffs, could cost California upwards of $275 billion. “This is not just an immigration issue — it’s sabotage of the state’s entire economic infrastructure,” Brady said.

California’s ports, hospitals, farms, and universities are all under strain, he said, noting Trump’s policies also threaten the future of the UC and CSU systems by undermining international student enrollment and research.

“The federal government is vandalizing the most successful public university system in the world,” Brady said. “And they’re doing it under the guise of patriotism.”

“This Is Martial Law in Disguise”

Community fear is growing rapidly. According to Zanipatin, entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles are eerily quiet. Parents are too afraid to send kids to school or visit grocery stores. Mutual aid groups are delivering food and essentials to those hiding at home.

“We’ve had U.S. citizens arrested. We’ve had people disappear without trace. We’ve had families split apart,” she said. “This isn’t about ‘illegals.’ This is a war on civilians.”

Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed that California is preparing legal challenges. “We’re committed to defending our people,” he said. “This is not just policy overreach. This is a constitutional crisis.”

As California braces for more federal raids and policy rollbacks, state leaders, legal advocates, and community organizers are mobilizing on multiple fronts — in the courts, in the legislature, and at the grassroots. From legal hotlines and sanctuary trainings to statewide data privacy legislation, the message is clear: California will not stand down.

“This is not just about immigrants,” said Villaraigosa. “This is about the soul of our state — and how far we’ll go to protect each other.”