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Officials from the Department of Homeland Security apprehended 16 individuals on Wednesday morning during immigration raids at a Home Depot in Los Angeles, an area that federal authorities claim is controlled by the notorious MS-13 gang.
The operation took place around 7 a.m. in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. As DHS officials arrived on the scene in Penske trucks, migrants started dispersing from the parking lot, as shown in video footage from the location.
DHS informed that the violent MS-13 gang has a strong presence in the area, which is why the high-profile immigration raid was conducted there.
No further information about the 16 detained individuals was immediately disclosed.
The raid occurred near the site of immigration raids last month that prompted Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to intervene and ask federal agents to depart.
“They need to leave, and they need to leave right now. They need to leave because this is unacceptable!” Bass, a vocal critic of immigration raids in the city, stated at the time.
Protesters also appeared in the area last month, with reports of vandalism on a federal vehicle and objects being thrown at vehicles.
In June, protesters clashed with authorities for several days in response to immigration raids in the region. President Donald Trump federalized the National Guard and deployed Marines to the city, drawing criticism from local and state officials, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
