On the one-year anniversary of the major immigration raids in Los Angeles, Congress has approved a staggering $70 billion infusion for immigration enforcement. The raids, which began in Los Angeles and spread across the country, resulted in at least two deaths, disrupted thousands of lives, and sparked historic levels of community resistance.
In Los Angeles County, the impact has been profound. Foot traffic to small businesses plunged after the raids and has never fully recovered, according to local reports.
Community organizing has intensified, with groups like Trabajadores Unidos Workers United and Lucha Zapoteca leading efforts to support affected families and resist further enforcement actions.
Alejo, Executive Director of Trabajadores Unidos Workers United and an organizer with Lucha Zapoteca, noted that the raids have fundamentally changed how immigrant communities organize. "We've seen a shift from defensive actions to proactive community-building and mutual aid," he said.
Debu Gandhi, senior director of immigration policy at the Center for American Progress, emphasized that the $70 billion approval represents a significant escalation in enforcement capabilities.
The raids also drew attention to the plight of those detained. In Oakland, sisters led a fight to free their relatives from ICE detention in Los Angeles, highlighting the human cost of the enforcement crackdown.
As the anniversary passes, immigrant communities in Los Angeles and beyond continue to grapple with the aftermath, while organizers vow to maintain their resistance.