Los Angeles, CA – U.S. Border Patrol agents recently conducted a raid at a Home Depot in Los Angeles, utilizing Penske rental trucks in an operation dubbed "Operation Trojan Horse." The action occurred days after Mayor Karen Bass declared a victory against federal immigration enforcement, raising questions about the raid's intent and adherence to a federal court order. Chief Greg Bovino, the architect of the operation, addressed criticisms regarding the targeting of day laborers and allegations of racial profiling.
The raid involved agents emerging from Penske trucks to apprehend individuals, primarily day laborers who often gather at Home Depot locations seeking work. Reports indicated at least 16 arrests were made during one such operation in Westlake. This tactic, labeled "Operation Trojan Horse" by Chief Bovino, has drawn significant attention and controversy.
The operation transpired shortly after U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking the Trump administration from conducting indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in Southern California. This ruling, a win for civil rights groups including the ACLU, prohibits agents from detaining individuals solely based on race, ethnicity, language, or presence in areas frequented by immigrants. Despite the injunction, Bovino maintains that federal agents consistently adhere to legal guidelines during enforcement actions.
In an interview, Chief Bovino defended the raids, stating that record checks are revealing significant criminality among arrestees. "Bovino tells me record checks are revealing 30-40% of the illegal aliens they’re arresting at Home Depots have criminality beyond just being in the U.S. illegally, and they won’t look the other way on illegal aliens who don’t," stated Bill Melugin in a recent tweet. Bovino further posed, "Do you want someone like that working in your house?"
The raids intensify an ongoing standoff between federal authorities and Los Angeles city officials, led by Mayor Bass. Mayor Bass had previously signed executive directives to bolster protections for immigrant communities and initiated a lawsuit against the federal government's immigration enforcement actions. This latest Border Patrol operation underscores the escalating tensions and differing approaches to immigration policy between local and federal jurisdictions.