Federal Agents, National Guard Spark Outcry with Surprise MacArthur Park Operation
Federal Agents, National Guard Spark Outcry with Surprise MacArthur Park Operation
Federal agents and California National Guard troops conducted a brief but highly visible operation yesterday in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park, a historically immigrant-dense neighborhood, drawing immediate and strong condemnation from city officials and residents.
The sudden deployment, featuring horseback units, armored vehicles, and heavily armed personnel from agencies like U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), lasted approximately an hour before abruptly withdrawing. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who arrived at the park, described the scene as a ‘city under siege’ and stated the operation appeared ‘designed to sow fear.’ She noted that children attending a day camp were quickly ushered indoors, and an 8-year-old boy expressed fear of ICE.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the ‘ongoing enforcement operations.’ However, defense officials confirmed about 90 National Guard members were present to protect immigration officers. The park, often dubbed the ‘Ellis Island of the West Coast’ due to its large Mexican, Central American, and other immigrant populations, was reportedly targeted amidst escalating immigration enforcement efforts by the Trump administration.
Local leaders expressed outrage. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes MacArthur Park, suggested it was chosen ‘precisely because of who lives there and what it represents.’ Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson likened the event to a ‘TikTok video staging,’ urging federal agencies to obtain film permits rather than ‘scare the bejesus out of everybody.’
Residents and outreach workers in the park reported being confronted by troops. Betsy Bolte, a nearby resident, called the show of force ‘gut-wrenching’ and ‘terror,’ expressing shock, disbelief, and anger. This incident follows previous deployments of thousands of Guard members and Marines in Los Angeles, highlighting ongoing state-federal tensions over immigration policy and military presence, which California Governor Gavin Newsom also labeled a ‘spectacle.’
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