ICE Is Targeting Day Labor Centers in LA That Hold Contracts With the City

"In September, the United States Supreme Court paused a temporary restraining order intended to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from terrorizing Los Angeles with roving patrols, giving ICE the green light to target people because of the color of their skin or the language they speak. But even while the restraining order was in effect starting in July, ICE never stopped targeting day labor centers in Los Angeles. On August 8, masked men in tactical gear surrounded the Van Nuys Community Job Center, and pointed weapons at my coworkers and me. When I asked to see a warrant, I was met with cold stares and a Border Patrol agent wielding a teargas canister."

"I am the executive director of the Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California (the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California or IDEPSCA), the largest operator of day labor ( jornalero) centers in California. We run five of the seven city- contracted day labor centers in Los Angeles, including the Van Nuys Community Job Center. The City of Los Angeles funds these official day labor centers to provide direct services to day laborers, including know-your-rights trainings, health and immunization clinics, housing support, and language classes, and contracts with nonprofit organizations like IDEPSCA to operate the centers."

The United States Supreme Court paused a temporary restraining order in September, allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to resume roving patrols in Los Angeles and to target people based on skin color or language. ICE continued to target day labor centers even while the restraining order was in effect starting in July. On August 8, masked agents in tactical gear surrounded the Van Nuys Community Job Center, pointed weapons at workers, and a Border Patrol agent brandished a teargas canister when a warrant was requested. IDEPSCA operates five of seven city-contracted day labor centers in Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles funds these centers to provide legal, health, housing, and language services. ICE has raided IDEPSCA day labor sites at least 14 times since June.

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