Trump’s DHS Launches Major Immigration Crackdown in LA, Targets MS-13-Controlled Areas

In a bold and unexpected move, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a surprise operation in Los Angeles on Wednesday, arresting 16 illegal immigrants, some of whom are believed to be affiliated with the notorious MS-13 gang.

The operation, which was dubbed “Operation Trojan Horse,” took place in the heart of a region known for its gang violence and illegal immigration problems.

The operation began early in the morning, around 7 a.m., near a Home Depot on Wilshire Boulevard by MacArthur Park—an area that had previously been the site of a high-profile DHS sweep in June.

This latest operation is part of a larger crackdown by President Trump’s administration aimed at enforcing immigration laws and tackling gang activity in cities across the U.S.

Federal agents, who had carefully planned the raid, were seen emerging from a Penske moving truck, catching the group of individuals off guard. As agents sprinted toward the crowd, those nearby scattered, and the operation unfolded quickly.

Video footage captured from the scene shows the intensity of the action, with agents moving swiftly to apprehend the individuals.

The 16 people detained were undocumented migrants from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua. While further details regarding their criminal histories or immigration status were not immediately released, DHS officials made it clear that the area in question has long been plagued by gang activity, specifically MS-13, which is known for its violent and often brutal tactics.

“MS-13 has a known chokehold in this area,” one DHS official said, explaining the rationale behind the operation. The gang, notorious for its violence and terrorizing local communities, has a significant presence in various parts of the United States, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations.

Los Angeles has long been a hotbed for MS-13 activity, and DHS officials are taking a tough stance on removing both illegal immigrants and gang members from the city.

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a criminal gang that originated in California in the early 1980s and has grown to become a major force in various cities across the U.S.

While its membership is predominantly made up of immigrants from Central America, the gang has become a symbol of the larger issues of illegal immigration and criminal activity in urban America.

Los Angeles, with its large immigrant population, remains a key battleground for immigration enforcement efforts by the Trump administration.

The raid was part of a broader initiative to crack down on gang violence and immigration violations in areas where illegal activity thrives. While the focus of the operation was on the individuals involved with MS-13, DHS officials stressed that they were also targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records or who were otherwise a threat to public safety.

The operation came on the heels of a similarly aggressive raid on June 6, which targeted multiple locations across Los Angeles and resulted in the arrest of several individuals.

That operation led to widespread protests, particularly from local activist groups and city officials opposed to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a strong critic of immigration enforcement, was seen confronting DHS agents on the scene. “They need to leave, and they need to leave right now,” Bass shouted, adding that such operations were “unacceptable” in her city.

Her opposition to the enforcement effort only intensified the tension surrounding the operation and highlighted the deep divide between local government leaders and federal authorities.

In addition to Bass, many activists took to the streets to protest the raids. As the day unfolded, the protests grew larger and more intense, with some demonstrators resorting to violent actions.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was forced to declare the protests an unlawful assembly and issued a citywide tactical alert to control the situation.

SkyFOX video footage from the scene showed dozens of LAPD officers in riot gear forming skirmish lines outside the Royal Federal Building downtown as protesters hurled objects, including chunks of concrete, at officers.

The situation escalated quickly, and law enforcement responded with tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowds. The chaos was further exacerbated as protesters vandalized property, spray-painting messages like “F*** ICE” on city structures and using hammers to break concrete.

The violence, which culminated in clashes between protesters and police, underscored the high stakes of the ongoing battle over immigration enforcement.

Both sides of the debate—those in favor of tougher immigration policies and those advocating for the rights of undocumented immigrants—have become increasingly entrenched, and the situation in Los Angeles served as a microcosm of the larger national debate.

With President Trump back in office, his administration has made it clear that immigration enforcement will be a top priority. One of the key components of Trump’s platform has been cracking down on sanctuary cities—localities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Los Angeles, under Mayor Bass, has long been a sanctuary city, and the ongoing resistance from local officials to federal immigration enforcement has only intensified under the current administration.

Trump has consistently argued that sanctuary policies endanger public safety by shielding illegal immigrants from deportation and allowing criminal elements, including gangs like MS-13, to operate with relative impunity.

The president has pushed for more aggressive federal action to counter these policies, and Operation Trojan Horse is a direct response to the perceived failures of sanctuary cities to address the issues of illegal immigration and gang violence.

“Operation Trojan Horse is just one example of our commitment to law and order,” a DHS spokesperson said. “No city, no mayor, no protest mob will stand in the way of the federal government’s duty to protect public safety and enforce the law.”

This rhetoric resonates strongly with Trump’s base, many of whom view sanctuary cities as a betrayal of the country’s immigration laws. For Trump and his supporters, the goal is clear: to rid the country of illegal immigrants, especially those with ties to violent gangs, and to ensure that communities are safe from criminal activity. The raids, despite protests and legal challenges, are seen as a necessary step in achieving this goal.

Despite the pushback from local officials and activists, the raids have not been hindered by legal challenges, including a recent ruling that temporarily restricted DHS from conducting warrantless detentions.

In July, a federal judge appointed by President Biden issued a ruling that criticized DHS for conducting “roving” patrols and detaining individuals based on ethnicity or occupation rather than legal cause.

The judge’s decision, which aimed to curtail some of the aggressive tactics employed by DHS, was seen as a setback for the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

However, the judge’s ruling was not enough to stop the operation in Los Angeles. U.S. Attorney for Los Angeles Bill Essayli, in response to the criticism and legal hurdles, took to social media to celebrate the success of the enforcement effort.

“For those who thought immigration enforcement had stopped in Southern California, think again,” Essayli wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The enforcement of federal law is not negotiable, and there are no sanctuaries from the reach of the federal government.”

While the Biden administration’s Justice Department appealed the restraining order, the legal pushback has done little to deter DHS from continuing its operations.

The fight over immigration enforcement is expected to intensify in the coming months, with both sides preparing for a major showdown in the courts. The case may eventually be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, setting the stage for a landmark decision on the scope of immigration enforcement powers.

With the Trump administration back in action and DHS ramping up its operations, the battle over immigration enforcement is far from over. The issue of sanctuary cities and the federal government’s role in immigration enforcement remains a divisive and contentious topic, and Los Angeles will likely continue to be a flashpoint in this ongoing struggle.

As the legal challenges mount and protests continue to erupt in cities across the country, the question of how to balance immigration enforcement with the rights of undocumented immigrants will remain at the forefront of the national debate.

Whether or not Trump’s tough stance on immigration will succeed in the long term remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the fight over illegal immigration, gang violence, and sanctuary cities is far from finished.

For now, DHS’s Operation Trojan Horse and other raids will continue, with federal agents targeting areas known for criminal activity and illegal immigration. The Trump administration’s hardline approach is likely to fuel further protests and legal battles, ensuring that the issue of immigration will remain a key flashpoint heading into the 2024 election cycle.