Who are these people?’ Masked immigration agents challenge local police, sow fear in L.A.
People got into a confrontation with Border Patrol agents in Bell after one of their vehicles was involved in a traffic accident. This happened while federal immigration raids were going on throughout the Los Angeles area on Friday. These raids, led by masked federal agents who sometimes use unmarked vehicles, are causing confusion and tension for local police.
Local police departments often don’t know when or where these raids are happening. But after the raids, they’re the ones left to handle the chaos — including angry protests and community members demanding answers. Sometimes, people even mistake local police for federal agents, which damages the trust that has taken years to build between officers and immigrant communities.
In Bell, things turned chaotic when masked agents showed up at a car wash and began detaining workers. Residents and immigration activists quickly gathered, demanding answers. The agents eventually had to speed away, driving over curbs and medians to escape the angry crowd.
In Pasadena, a disturbing incident added to the tension. A man in an unmarked car got out at a traffic light, pulled out a gun, and pointed it at pedestrians before jumping back into the car, turning on flashing red and blue lights, and speeding off. The entire event was caught on video and widely shared online.
Pasadena’s police chief, Gene Harris, said they couldn’t tell right away if it was a crime or part of a federal operation. After reviewing video and checking his uniform and badge, they believed the man was likely an ICE agent. Harris said they wouldn’t investigate further.
At Dodger Stadium, immigration agents were seen stationed outside the parking lot, which also sparked protests and forced local leaders to answer questions. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass criticized the agents, saying they wore masks, refused to show ID, and looked more like vigilantes or bounty hunters than law enforcement.
An expert in law enforcement, Ed Obayashi, explained that federal agents operate with a lot of freedom and don’t have to answer to local police. If federal agents decide to detain someone or pull a gun, local officers can’t stop them — no matter the situation. He said even if agents break rules, it’s nearly impossible to hold them accountable in court, unlike local police.
The U.S. Supreme Court has made it hard to sue federal agents for violating civil rights, which adds to the frustration for those affected by these raids.
The events in Bell, Pasadena, and Dodger Stadium happened after a wave of surprise immigration raids hit mostly Latino neighborhoods across the region. People are scared and upset because masked men are grabbing their friends and family without clearly showing they’re federal agents or providing a warrant.
In the Pasadena incident, video shows a man stepping out of a Dodge Charger, pointing a gun at people, then getting back in the car and turning on police-style lights. His vest said “Police,” and he wore a badge, but people online started questioning whether he was a real officer after posting the car’s license plate. Police later said the plate was a “cold plate,” which is often used in undercover operations and can’t be traced.
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said this kind of behavior — pulling a gun on people taking photos — shows a serious lack of training and discipline. He hopes federal officials will step in and provide clarity. But he’s also worried that someone could get shot or that local police might accidentally get involved in a violent situation because of the confusion around these operations.
Gordo said that in the past, federal officials would notify cities before raids happened, helping to avoid misunderstandings. He now believes that cities must be kept informed for everyone’s safety.
Pasadena’s police chief said that if someone thinks a person is pretending to be law enforcement, they should call 911. However, he made it clear that local police won’t interfere with federal actions. He also said that so far, there hasn’t been any violence or arrests in Pasadena related to protests over the raids.
In Fontana, about an hour away, the confusion has also created problems. Fontana police were mistaken for immigration agents during a burglary investigation because of what was said on social media. In another case, protesters thought undercover officers were doing immigration surveillance and confronted them.
Fontana’s police chief said these misunderstandings can put officers and the public in danger, especially during real investigations.
The public response to the raids has been fast and intense in many areas. In Bell, agents wearing military-style clothing and face coverings detained at least three people at a car wash. A crowd quickly formed, yelling and demanding to know who the agents were and whether they were even legitimate. Some asked sarcastically how much “the bounty” was for detaining undocumented people. Things got so heated that the agents used tear gas to break up the crowd and get away. Federal officials said some of their vehicles were damaged during the chaos.
Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores said he believes the government’s actions are a form of “political theater,” meant to stir up fear in Latino communities. He wants to propose a rule requiring local police to ask federal agents to identify themselves before they conduct any raids in his city.
Flores warned that if someone dresses up like a federal agent and starts detaining people without accountability, it could lead to tragedy. While he doesn’t want local officers interfering with federal work, he believes local leaders must do something to keep communities safe and hold federal agencies responsible for how they operate.
