ICE raid in LA? Homeland Security met by protesters

LOS ANGELES - Several people protested a possible Homeland Security raid that took place Friday morning at a home in Los Angeles.

While initial reports speculated that it was an ICE raid, local officials said the raid was in connection with a human trafficking investigation.

Video posted to the Citizen App shows an officer directing traffic at a residential intersection near 1328 Connecticut St. while other officers gather around. 

What we know:

Images from SkyFOX showed dozens of people gathered outside a house, seemingly videotaping the officers standing outside.

Several people also held signs directed to a black SUV. SkyFOX also showed video of officers speaking with people in the backyard of the home. 

According to the woman who lives at the home, who does not want her name released, agents broke the gate and stormed in through both the front and back. She insists that she lives in the house with three US-born sons - two of them minors. 

An 18-year-old visitor from Guatemala, who she says missed an immigration hearing, but has no criminal background, was detained. 

What they're saying:

"I don't know if that is who they were looking for, because they never told me" she said, adding that agents gave her a notice to appear in court with their own documentation to show she was here illegally. 

FOX 11's Christina Gonzalez repeatedly asked her if anyone in the house had any kind of criminal record, or reason why they would be targeted, and she repeatedly answered no. 

The house is filled with the clothes she sells as a vendor, when she is not working as a seamstress. 

Activists from the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality by Any Means Necessary (BAMN) told us outside they don't believe ICE's claims that they are not targeting undocumented immigrants indiscriminately. 

Neighbors of the woman say they have never seen police respond to problems at the house. 

ICE Statement 

A spokesperson from ICE sent FOX 11 the following statement, "Due to our operational tempo and the increased interest in our agency, we are not able to research and respond to rumors or specifics of routine daily operations for ICE."

The backstory:

Nearly a month into President Donald Trump’s second term and his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, federal officers continue to make arrests across the U.S., including in Southern California.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began targeting major sanctuary cities immediately after Trump's inauguration, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. The following day, Trump lifted longtime guidelines that restricted ICE from operating at "sensitive locations" such as schools, churches or hospitals.

Several large-scale protests were held in downtown LA to protest Trump's immigration policies and ICE. 

LAPD responds

In a statement issued Friday evening, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, denying that the raid Friday morning was immigration related.

"This morning LAPD was in Newton Division assisting with traffic control as HOmeland Security was attempting to arrest a suspect wanted for human trafficking," McDonnell said. "Any questions involving this investigation should be directed to their department. I want to be absolutely clear: the LAPD does not participate in civil immigration enforcement. This has been the department's policy since 1979, and it remains unchanged today."