A video shared on social media shows what looks like federal immigration officers tackling a woman during an arrest outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. During the incident, her clothes were pulled off, and the video quickly got attention online.
According to a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the woman was blocking the entrance to a federal building and refused to follow repeated instructions from the officers.
This incident is part of a larger, ongoing issue in California. Immigration enforcement often causes strong reactions from the public, especially in cities like Los Angeles where many immigrants live. California generally tries to protect undocumented immigrants through state laws, which often conflict with the stricter immigration policies pushed by the federal government, especially during the Trump administration, when raids increased.
The video was taken on October 4. It shows a group of DHS agents in black tactical gear, wearing helmets and vests labeled “POLICE DHS.” As they approach the woman, she appears to resist. Officers grab her arms and legs and force her to the ground. In the struggle, her clothes become disheveled. People nearby can be heard shouting at the agents, accusing them of assault and telling them to stop pulling her clothes.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for DHS, said the woman used her car to block the federal building’s driveway. She also reportedly refused to move the car or show any ID when asked multiple times.
Someone who claimed to witness the situation told a TikTok user that the woman had simply stopped to ask for directions before agents quickly approached, took her down, and arrested her. In the video, the woman can be heard yelling that her rights were being violated.
McLaughlin said the woman was moved away from the street and from a crowd of people she called “agitators.” She added that DHS won’t allow people to interfere with or assault federal officers.
DHS confirmed the woman was arrested after refusing to cooperate, but they did not share her name or any details about her immigration status.
Recently, immigration enforcement has increased in California, with more frequent raids targeting undocumented individuals. This has sparked concern from community leaders and immigrant rights advocates, who say such actions hurt the relationship between law enforcement and local communities.
California’s “sanctuary” policies limit how much local police can help federal immigration agents. This ongoing clash between state and federal approaches continues to lead to tense and sometimes dramatic confrontations like the one shown in the video.
McLaughlin also stated that the woman began resisting arrest by kicking at officers and refusing to stand up.
