Federal agents conducted a significant enforcement operation early Friday morning at an underground nightclub in Southern California, resulting in the arrest of 36 individuals from China and Taiwan. These arrests were made on suspicions that they were in the United States illegally.
The operation was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and members of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force. The precise location of the nightclub has not been disclosed by authorities.
A video released by HSI Los Angeles shows agents preparing for the raid before dawn. It features scenes of individuals being detained and escorted into white vans. The agency stated that this operation was part of its ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws.
Details about the investigation leading to this raid remain limited. The involvement of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force in this operation is also unclear. This task force is a multi-agency group that focuses on financial crimes in Southern California, including members from HSI, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Just days before this nightclub raid, the task force arrested 14 people linked to a transnational criminal network accused of fraudulently obtaining over $25 million in COVID-19 relief funds. This recent enforcement action reflects a broader trend as federal agencies ramp up immigration enforcement, following directives from the current administration to increase arrests and deportations across the country.
The operation at the nightclub highlights ongoing concerns regarding illegal immigration and the enforcement of immigration laws in California, where many communities are closely watching these developments.