Federal agents were captured on video surrounding a parked car in Los Angeles on Tuesday, before smashing a window and pulling three people from the vehicle.
Footage obtained by CBS News Los Angeles from Van Nuys showed the standoff at a strip mall, where masked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers detained two men and a woman.
Newsweek reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for comment via email Wednesday afternoon.
Why It Matters
The enforcement action followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision issuing a stay on a ban preventing roving patrols by federal agents—a measure initially aimed at curbing racial profiling in Los Angeles. The Trump administration has intensified efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, with targeted enforcement in Southern California stirring tension within local communities for months.
What To Know
The incident occurred Tuesday morning in a parking lot near Sherman Way and Kester Avenue.
Videos circulating on social media and shared by local news outlets showed masked federal agents surrounding a bright red muscle car, with one agent shouting, “Get out of the car now.” At one point, a window was broken.
Agents then pulled two men from the vehicle, pushed them to the ground, and handcuffed them. A woman inside, reportedly a U.S. citizen, shouted at agents as a firearm was pointed in her direction. After being placed against the car briefly, she was released, while the men were taken into custody.
The operation, outside a Mexican restaurant, prompted questions about the necessity of such a large-scale response. A witness told ABC 7 Eyewitness News that the two men were lawful permanent residents.
While ICE has yet to respond to Newsweek’s request for comment, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox 11 that one of the men was an alleged MS-13 gang member.
McLaughlin identified one detainee as Jose Herazo-Mexicanos, from Guatemala, who was stopped during a traffic check and had a prior manslaughter conviction. The driver, identified as Douglas Rodriguez Melgar from El Salvador and also an alleged MS-13 member, left his passport in the vehicle. Agents reportedly tracked him to the strip mall parking lot.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Newsweek that its officers were present to monitor the situation and maintain order.
What People Are Saying
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox 11:
“This operation resulted in the arrest of two criminal illegal aliens and MS-13 gang members. Officers used the minimum amount of force necessary to make the arrest. During the arrest, violent rioters became aggressive toward ICE. Agents called LAPD to help control the crowd.”
What Happens Next
ICE continues to carry out operations across Los Angeles and nationwide as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement efforts.
