Immigration enforcement agents descend on MacArthur Park, causing uproar

A convoy of armored vehicles and white vans pulled up to MacArthur Park Monday morning before uniformed immigration enforcement agents formed a skirmish line and walked through the park around 11 a.m.

The agents were masked, some on horseback, and a Department of Homeland Security helicopter circled above, as seen in video taken by FOX 11. In the video, one group of agents on horseback were seen posing for a photo while carrying an American flag.

The intent of the operation, or whether anyone was detained during the operation, is unclear. A spokesperson for DHS told LAist in an email that the department doesn’t comment on ongoing enforcement operations.

“ I do not believe that anyone was detained,” Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference after federal officers left the park. “Maybe they were. But then again, I don't think the goal is to detain. I think the goal is to spread fear.”

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Outcry from local officials

Bass arrived at MacArthur Park Monday while the immigration enforcement operation was underway. She said in her news conference that the operation by Customs and Border Protection was “outrageous and un-American.”

" The [Trump] administration is continuing what I have framed as an all out assault, a military assault on our city,” she said.

She added that children were at the park for a summer day camp, along with employees of the St. John’s Community Health clinic, who were providing medical services to people in the park before the activity began. The arrival of federal agents disrupted the summer camp and medical services, Bass said.

Jim Mangia, CEO of St. John’s Community Health, said in a statement that the organization will be pursuing legal action against the federal government for Monday’s actions, which he called “unconstitutional and illegal.”

Mangia said immigration enforcement agents cursed at healthcare staff and threatened them with guns.

A spokesperson for L.A. City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes MacArthur Park, said Monday's display was “an egregious escalation from the federal government as they continue to spread terror and confusion in our communities.”

Hearing from people at the scene

L.A. residents who were at MacArthur Park after immigration enforcement agents left on Monday told LAist they were there to act as legal observers, to call for continued nonviolent protests, or to provide information on people’s rights when they're approached by immigration enforcement agents.

Jeanette Zanipatin is an immigration lawyer and the director of policy and advocacy at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, or CHIRLA. She said she came to MacArthur Park once she heard there was an immigration enforcement operation taking place.

 ”I'm here to be a legal observer to also document any human rights abuses that are occurring and to really just try to protect our community to the best extent that we possibly can,” Zanipatin told LAist.