It’s not a good week to be on the wrong side of federal boots. The country’s immigration enforcement machine is grinding louder than ever, and the gears are catching more than just undocumented migrants. The latest footage out of Pico Rivera, California, shows ICE agents urinating on school property in broad daylight. Surveillance cameras at Ruben Salazar High School caught at least ten agents relieving themselves between 8:54 and 9:04 a.m., just feet from a preschool playground and an elementary school in session. No warrant. No explanation. Just agents in marked and unmarked vehicles, walking back and forth between storage containers and their SUVs. The El Rancho Unified School District sent a letter to DHS demanding badge numbers and accountability. DHS responded with a boilerplate: “Matter is under investigation.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court gave the Trump administration a green light to deport eight men to South Sudan. These individuals were held for six weeks in a shipping container on a U.S. military base in Djibouti. The court’s unsigned order, reportedly 7-2, overrode a federal judge’s injunction that had blocked the deportation. The judge had argued the men deserved notice and a chance to object, citing the Convention Against Torture. The administration pushed back, calling the men “the worst of the worst,” including convictions for murder, child rape, and armed robbery. The court didn’t explain its reasoning. The men are now en route to a country the State Department warns Americans not to visit due to armed conflict and kidnapping.
In Los Angeles, the LAPD is fielding a surge of 911 calls reporting kidnappings. Most turn out to be ICE raids. One recent incident involved masked agents dragging a woman into an SUV in the Fashion District. Officers arrived and formed a line—not to investigate, but to shield the agents from a crowd demanding her release. The woman was later identified as a U.S. citizen. City leaders are now questioning LAPD’s role. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez asked the Police Commission to verify the identity of masked agents operating in unmarked vehicles. DHS denies using bounty hunters. The LAPD says it’s not involved in civil immigration enforcement. But the optics are hard to ignore.
In Florida, 200 Marines have been deployed to support immigration operations. The state is building a new detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” on a remote Everglades airstrip. The site will house up to 5,000 detainees and cost $450 million annually. Alaska chimed in, suggesting its own version: “Bear Alcatraz.” Governor Mike Dunleavy’s office said, “We don’t have alligators, but we have lots of bears.” The White House is urging red states to build facilities and call DHS directly. Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said, “Pick up the phone. Work with us.”
Back in California, a citizen is suing the federal government for $1 million after being detained for filming an ICE raid. Job Garcia, a U.S. citizen and PhD student, was arrested while recording agents at a Home Depot in Los Angeles. He was held for over 24 hours without charges. DHS claims he assaulted an agent. Garcia says he was tackled and restrained without warning. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
The creator of ICEBlock, an app that alerts users to nearby ICE activity, is facing threats. Joshua Aaron says the app has over 100,000 users and doesn’t collect personal data. DHS called it “obstruction of justice.” Aaron says it’s about safety, not sabotage. “If you ever wondered what you’d do during Hitler’s rise, you’re doing it now,” he told Newsweek. The app remains live on Apple’s App Store.
And finally, champion boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. was arrested by ICE just days after losing to Jake Paul. DHS says he overstayed his visa and has cartel ties. He’s accused of trafficking firearms and explosives and faces deportation to Mexico. The arrest happened in Studio City, California, while he was riding a scooter. DHS says he’s an “egregious public safety threat.” His attorney says the allegations are outrageous.
Sources:
https://www.newsweek.com/iceblock-app-homeland-security-deportations-2093439
https://ksltv.com/immigration-2025/utahn-detained-ice-50-days/792882/
https://san.com/cc/i-knew-what-i-was-signing-up-for-iceblock-app-creator-moves-forward-amid-threats/