Dramatic video captured several migrant workers scrambling across rooftops in Southern California as they tried to evade federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation at a small construction site.
The footage shows two people climbing a ladder to reach the roof of a single-story home in Montebello on Wednesday, shortly after authorities arrived outside the house. Montebello is located in Los Angeles County.
At one point, one of the individuals appeared to try to knock the ladder down—seemingly to stop agents from following. An officer, however, caught the ladder and set it back against the home.
Seconds later, the group split up, jumping to separate nearby rooftops as they fled.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News Digital the incident happened during a U.S. Border Patrol enforcement operation in the Montebello area.
“These operations resulted in the arrest of five illegal aliens from Mexico and Guatemala who have all broken the immigration laws of this country,” the spokesperson said. “These individuals will remain in custody pending further immigration proceedings.”
Local outlet ABC7 reported that the workers’ boss initially claimed no one had been detained. DHS later confirmed to Fox News Digital that five people were arrested during the operation.
DHS said the activity was part of a broader push by the Trump administration to crack down on illegal immigration.
The incident comes as the White House moves forward with what officials have described as the largest deportation effort in U.S. history—an approach that has drawn backlash in sanctuary cities and other Democratic-led jurisdictions.
