TSA agents, not ICE, seen at Mariachi Plaza, but Boyle Heights’ rapid response shows its power

This story was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on June 3, 2025.

When people spotted men who appeared to be federal agents walking through the Mariachi Plaza Metro station in Boyle Heights on Tuesday morning, it didn’t take long for word to spread.

Within minutes, Boyle Heights activists descended to the area around First Street and Boyle Avenue. Some positioned themselves in front of a black Ford SUV believed to have federal license plates, according to video footage provided by the social justice group Centro CSO and shared on social media.

Activists chanted, “ICE is not welcome here!” A man from inside the SUV shouted: “We are not ICE!”

The SUV reversed into an alley as activists chanted, “Migra out of Boyle Heights!”

Footage provided by Centro CSO shows an activist pounding the hood of the SUV as it reversed.

While Boyle Heights Beat has not confirmed whether the individuals seen at the station were immigration agents, Tuesday’s fast-moving response from local organizations underscores the community’s vigilance.

While Metro Los Angeles later confirmed that the men were agents from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and not related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Tuesday’s fast-moving response from local organizations underscores the community’s vigilance.

Groups like Centro CSO, Union del Barrio, the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network, and the Community Self-Defense Coalition mobilized quickly in response to reports of immigration enforcement in the neighborhood.

The groups have been working in coordination since the Trump administration ramped up deportation efforts around the country.

Gabriel Quiroz, of Centro CSO, said the group was alerted by Proyecto Pastoral, which leads the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network, a coalition that defends immigrant families and verifies rumors of immigration activity in Boyle Heights.

Union del Barrio, a volunteer network of residents who patrol streets for immigration activity, also posted a video on Instagram showing two men in uniform walking inside the Metro station at Mariachi Plaza.

Tuesday’s show of support proved that the Community Self Defense Coalition is effective, said Ron Gochez with Union del Barrio. “We were able to cover ground simultaneously because of the coalition’s effort,” said Gochez, adding that the group has gotten reports of immigration activity in Sun Valley and Montebello.

Stencil graffiti art reads, “La Migra,” Spanish-language slang for immigration enforcement along 1st Street in Boyle Heights.

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Andrew Lopez

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Boyle Heights Beat

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“It’s a success for our rapid response,” Quiroz said. “This is not the first and not the last [time] they’re going to be out here, and the fact that we’re able to mobilize this quickly, that’s what we want to do,” Quiroz said. “We want to keep getting better.”

Word of the agents’ presence sparked anxiety in the community. The men, who were dressed in uniform and black vests, were from TSA’s Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response team, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security. The team “seeks to prevent and deter acts of terrorism against U.S. transportation systems,” according to the TSA website.

Maya Pogoda with Metro said the agents patrol transit hubs, including Metro stations.

“Counterterrorism is their main focus,” Pogoda said.

Raquel Roman, executive director of Proyecto Pastoral, said the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights network hotline was flooded with questions about whether the sightings were real.

Roman acknowledged that social media posts, especially those without context, can cause panic.

While informing the community remains paramount, Roman said, it’s important to be cautious to avoid stoking more fear during a tense time for undocumented immigrants.

Boyle Heights Beat reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to confirm the identity of the individuals seen at the Metro station, but has not received a response.

Near Mariachi Plaza, Estela Romo, an employee of Santa Cecilia restaurant, said she received calls warning her and her staff about the potential presence of federal agents nearby.

“People were calling by phone saying that immigration was here and telling us to be careful,” she said. “It does cause panic… I think people didn’t even come to eat because of that.”

“I don’t know if it’s true or false if immigration was here,” she said.

Outside of the Metro station, Marcela Torres and her young son noticed a handmade sign affixed to a station post warning community members of the presence of agents at the station just hours before. She was in disbelief that agents were in the community.

“There are people who are working to maintain their families, and for this to happen, is a little bit scary. I thank God that we are OK,” she said.

Business owner Guillermo Piñon said he wasn’t surprised that the agents were working in the neighborhood, mere feet away from his bar, Distrito Catorce. The 51-year-old said he started getting messages quickly after the videos on social media began to spread.

“Right now, nothing surprises me. They’re trying to go after the most vulnerable,” Piñon said. “If anything, it’s a good time for us to realize that [Boyle Heights] can be on their radar too, so it’s a good time to organize and rally to protect our neighbors.”