Community Groups: Sheriff’s East LA Station Facilitates ICE Raids

Community organizations are accusing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department of enabling federal immigration raids in East Los Angeles. The dispute centers on the use of county property as a staging area for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Over the past 45 days, activists have documented five detentions in Belvedere Park. The arrests occurred near the ELALASD station, located between 4801 and 4837 East. Video footage from August 3, August 5, and October 8 shows agents in ICE vests arresting individuals. One widely shared video captured the October 8 arrest at approximately 10:20 a.m. near Mednik and Tercera streets.

The County Board of Supervisors approved an ICE Free Zones ordinance in January. Policy 3.175 designates all county-owned, leased, or controlled properties as sensitive locations. The policy prohibits federal agents from using county facilities for processing, deployment, or operational bases for civil immigration enforcement. However, the public parking lot at Belvedere Park lacks specific signage indicating these restrictions. A standard sign merely reads Public Parking.

Verita Topete, a community organizer, stated that protesters are responding to what they describe as the kidnapping of undocumented community members. She noted that agents have been seen dragging people across the park grass and lifting them while they waited for buses or ate at picnic tables. Topete emphasized that California and Los Angeles are supposed to be sanctuary jurisdictions, yet residents continue to face fear on their streets.

Derek Mejia, president of the Centro CSO Police Accountability Committee, explained that the group lacks the authority to directly command the sheriff. He argued that community control of the police would allow residents to direct the department to stop allowing ICE to use its parking lot. Mejia lamented the current lack of power to question Sheriff Robert Luna on the matter.

Sheriff Robert Luna stated that East Los Angeles station staff did not participate in the federal immigration activities. He clarified that ICE agents did not notify the station before the recent detentions. Luna explained that the two most recent incidents involved agents using public parking lots adjacent to the park, not secure station facilities. He noted that deputies cannot obstruct federal agents acting under their own legal authority.

Board President Hilda L. Solis expressed serious concern over the reports. She co-authored the motion for ICE Free Zones and requested that County Counsel ensure full compliance with the policy. Solis urged residents to document encounters safely and report suspicious activity to the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network at (888) 624-4752.

During a protest, demonstrators broke yellow plastic tape placed around the ELALASD building. They shouted at the officers inside and struck the glass doors with their hands. Sheriff’s patrols moved to protect their colleagues inside the building. No arrests were made during the demonstration, and no officers were attacked.