As ICE raids sweep the Eastside, rapid response teams say they need more support

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A car wash worker who’s lived in the country for nearly 20 years. An LAUSD parent who supports his family with a carnitas stand. A man detained near Hollenbeck Park. 

In just over a week, multiple people like them have been taken into custody during immigration enforcement operations across the Eastside, rattling neighborhoods already on high alert. 

The recent surge has pushed residents and organizers into action. Demonstrations have been held calling for “ICE out of East LA.” Volunteer groups have added foot patrols to hand out “Know Your Rights” materials and connect impacted families with resources. But organizers say the nearly daily enforcement activity has left many exhausted and in need of more support to keep up. 

“Everyone is probably facing some level of burnout,” said Raquel Roman, executive director of Proyecto Pastoral, a community-building and social justice nonprofit that spearheaded the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network (BHIRN). “It’s been like a week and a half, two weeks, of (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity) almost every day.” 

BHIRN coordinates a network of more than 40 volunteers made up of community organizations and residents, including parents, teachers, clergy and many who have full-time jobs. The group verifies reports of ICE activity in and around the Eastside and provides support to the families of those detained.

Last week, a BHIRN volunteer drove down Olympic Boulevard near Atlantic Boulevard, alerting the community through a megaphone that ICE had been seen in the area. Another went to Clement’s Car Wash in East LA and provided resources to the family of a man who was detained there.

Other groups responding to the increased ICE activity last week were Boyle Heights-based Centro CSO and Unión del Barrio, who have reported similar feelings of fatigue among their members.

Verita Topete, Centro CSO’s immigration co-chair, said this work can take a toll on their mental health, especially after the killing of Renee Good by an immigration agent in Minneapolis. 

“I myself have confronted ICE agents a couple times while they were conducting a raid, so it was just like, ‘Wow, that could have been any one of us,” Topete said. “It definitely does weigh heavy on our mental health, but it continues to fuel us.”

“The Trump administration, they’re not stopping anytime soon,” she said. “We have to continue fighting for our people.”

Department of Homeland Security officials did not immediately return a request for comment about the raids that took place around Boyle Heights and East LA over the past 10 days.

This past Sunday, Centro CSO members walked around the Commerce Center to distribute “Know Your Rights” information and encourage residents to get involved in local rapid response efforts. It was the group’s second foot patrol of the month. 

“There have been a lot of cluster raids in East LA, affecting street vendors and folks that work at car washes and construction workers,” Topete said. During the walk, she noticed fewer people outside than usual. “They were scared,” she said.

“Some people weren’t opening the door, but once we explained to them, ‘We’re with Centro CSO, we’re handing out ‘Know Your Rights’ information … they were more receptive,” she added. “They would even ask if they could take more than one flier that they could give to their friends and family.”

The increased ICE raids have also prompted grassroots groups to ramp up their response, while newer efforts have also begun to form. 

On Saturday, the Community Self-Defense Coalition — a network that includes groups like Unión del Barrio and Centro CSO — is hosting a community patrols training in Koreatown. “As things escalate, we need to be more organized, disciplined and united,” the coalition posted on Instagram.

Now, an ICE Out of East LA community rapid response group has emerged on social media. According to an Instagram post, the group is intended to share ICE sightings across Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights, East LA, City Terrace and El Sereno. The group has not posted since their announcement one week ago, and it’s unclear if they are up and running. The group did not respond to interview requests from Boyle Heights Beat. 

Roman said there’s value in advocacy and support as long as efforts are coordinated. 

“When people come together and are in community, that’s us saying that we’re not going to be afraid and we’re not going to let them separate our families,” Roman said

BHIRN is now seeking more volunteers willing to provide what it calls “aftercare,” Roman said. This means checking in on the families affected by immigration raids, especially those left vulnerable after a caretaker or breadwinner is detained. 

Support can range from grocery runs to paying their bills, depending on a family’s need, she said.

“I think if people are moved to do something, it’s better to do something than not do anything at this time,” Roman said.