Paramount ICE raids: What is happening near Home Depot and why are people getting arrested?

Several ICE agents were seen in Paramount and Downey on Saturday

Updated on: Jun 8, 2025, 01:38:54 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Several ICE agents were seen in Paramount and Downey on Saturday, as the agency's operation in key California hubs picked up steam. This comes as at least 44 people were detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on Friday during a protest. A local congressman said that the raids by federal officials are being conducted ‘outside the bounds of the law’.

ICE agents conducted raids in Paramount on Saturday (X)

Videos on social media showed ICE agents near a Home Depot store in Paramount. Bill Melugin of Fox News cited sources to report that the ICE did not conduct raids at the store.

“DHS has a nearby office in Paramount that they are using as a staging area. Protesters found it and began gathering. ICE will conduct targeted enforcement around LA today, serving criminal judicial warrants and enforcing final orders of removal/deportation orders,” the reporter said on X.

Videos on social media further showed protests erupting in Paramount, with crowds confronting agents, leading to chaotic scenes.

Why are people being arrested?

DHS claims these operations target individuals with active arrest warrants or criminal histories. In the Pomona raid, a senior DHS official stated agents sought one person with a warrant, but “nine additional illegal aliens were encountered,” some with prior charges like child abuse, assault, DUI, or immigration violations.

ICE addresses Los Angeles arrests

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons issued a statement saying that people in Los Angeles assaulted federal law enforcement officers on Friday.

“What took place in Los Angeles yesterday was appalling. As rioters attacked federal ICE and law enforcement officers on the LA streets, Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement," Lyons said.

“Our brave officers were vastly outnumbered, as over 1,000 rioters surrounded and attacked a federal building. It took over two hours for the Los Angeles Police Department to respond, despite being called multiple times. The brave men and women of ICE were in Los Angeles arresting criminal illegal aliens including gang members, drug traffickers and those with a history of assault, cruelty to children, domestic violence, robbery, and smuggling,” he further added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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