A new immigration operation carried out by federal agents in the Westlake area has sparked criticism and concern among Los Angeles' immigrant community after it was confirmed that at least 16 people were detained. The raids were conducted using a disguised moving truck in a procedure that has been compared to an ambush.

Agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hid inside a Penske rental truck and, upon arriving at the parking lot of a Home Depot store, quickly exited the vehicle to pursue migrants who were offering day labor services on the street. The operation was captured on video by a FOX News reporter who was embedded with the officers.

The raid took place just a few blocks from MacArthur Park, an area known for its high concentration of immigrant residents. Footage of the incident was shared on social media by officials from former President Donald Trump’s administration, who praised the action, despite a standing court order that restricts such operations.

.@MattFinnFNC is on the scene of a federal immigration operation taking place in a Home Depot lot in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/xQ4szqCpW4

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 6, 2025

Last month, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the detention of individuals without reasonable suspicion—particularly when based solely on appearance, language, or type of work. That order was recently upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and remains in effect in at least seven counties in the greater Los Angeles area.

An eyewitness told the Los Angeles Times that the driver of the moving truck approached a group of day laborers and offered them work in Spanish. When the men approached, several agents emerged from the back of the truck and began chasing them. The officers later returned to the vehicle and left the area, according to a video shared by the advocacy group Unión del Barrio.

Penske Truck Leasing, the company that owns the vehicle, released a statement distancing itself from the operation, stating it was unaware of how the rental truck would be used. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told FOX that the operation was aimed at capturing alleged members of the MS-13 gang.

However, attorney Mark Rosenbaum of Public Counsel, who is part of the legal team suing over these enforcement practices, challenged the official narrative. He argued that the public is being misled by claims that the raids target only dangerous criminals, when in fact they indiscriminately affect immigrant workers.