Federal agents conducted a significant enforcement operation early Friday morning at an underground nightclub in Southern California. During this operation, they arrested 36 individuals, primarily from China and Taiwan, who are suspected of being in the United States illegally.
The raid was carried out by agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and members of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force. The exact location of the nightclub has not been disclosed.
A video released by HSI showed officers preparing for the operation before sunrise and later apprehending individuals outside the venue. Those arrested were seen being handcuffed and loaded into white vans.
While the specifics of the investigation remain unclear, the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, which focuses on financial crimes in Southern California, played a role in this operation. This task force includes various federal and state agencies, including the IRS Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
This enforcement action comes amid heightened immigration enforcement efforts. Earlier in the week, the task force also arrested 14 people accused of being part of a criminal network that fraudulently obtained over $25 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
The crackdown on illegal immigration continues as federal agencies strive to comply with directives aimed at increasing arrests and deportations across the nation. In recent days, HSI Los Angeles has made several arrests, including a group of 12 Mexican citizens who arrived in Long Beach by boat.
The situation reflects ongoing challenges and discussions surrounding immigration and enforcement policies in the United States.