Gomez Speaks Out Against Recent ICE Raids in Los Angeles

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a Democrat from California, expressed strong concerns about recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating that officers are targeting people based on their appearance. He made these comments during an interview on CNN.

When discussing the immigrant raid that occurred near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Monday, Gomez compared the situation to his experiences in Mexico and other foreign places where he noticed authorities patrolling with large firearms.

He asserted that ICE isn’t truly after criminals or members of gangs like MS-13. Rather, Gomez suggested that the purpose of their operations is to instill fear within the Hispanic community, saying, “They are not chasing criminals. They are chasing people who look like me.” This indicates a troubling reality where fear of arrest can affect anyone, regardless of their citizenship status.

Gomez also criticized President Donald Trump for using California as an example to showcase states that are less welcoming to immigrants, emphasizing that he will not “bend his knees” to the administration. He plans to leverage his influence to counter the current policies that, in his view, unfairly target immigrant communities.

In the wake of these raids, Fox News Digital reached out to ICE for their perspective but did not receive an immediate response.

The raids were concentrated in areas like Westlake, a region with a significant Hispanic population and some influence from MS-13. Reports indicated that while U.S. Border Patrol agents were present, no arrests were made during the operation.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, an outspoken opponent of the recent immigration enforcement actions, called for immediate changes and demanded ICE leadership engage with community concerns. She asserted, “They need to leave, they need to leave now. This is not acceptable!” Bass later voiced her outrage on social media, labeling the situation as “absolutely outrageous.”