Local outlet L.A. Taco reported late on December 17 that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents carried out coordinated raids in at least 18 Southern California communities, including Riverside, Anaheim and San Diego. Eyewitness videos show agents detaining street-food vendors, construction workers and day laborers, sometimes colliding with civilian vehicles during high-speed pursuits. Organizers counted 19–25 arrests in a single day, though DHS has not confirmed numbers.
The sweeps form part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a renewed interior-enforcement push aimed at sanctuary jurisdictions. Agents left “self-deportation letters” at several residences—documents offering to waive formal removal proceedings if migrants agree to leave within 48 hours, echoing tactics seen in the Midwest earlier this month.
Whether you are an employer seeking to verify staff documents or an individual looking to adjust status, VisaHQ offers an easy-to-use online portal for securing or renewing U.S. visas. Its step-by-step guidance, real-time tracking and dedicated support can help reduce paperwork errors and delays that often draw unwanted attention from enforcement agencies. Explore your options at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
![ICE and Border Patrol Conduct Sweeping Raids Across 18 Southern California Cities, Netting Up to 25 Detainees]()
Immigrant-rights groups say the raids are sowing fear that keeps undocumented residents from work and school, with local businesses reporting sudden labor shortages. The California Restaurant Association estimates a 6–10% drop in weekday staffing at eateries in affected neighborhoods.
For multinational companies with logistics hubs or retail outlets in the region, the disruption highlights the need for rapid communication plans, lawful-presence audits and contingency staffing. Employers are advised to remind managers about I-9 discrimination rules—some have faced civil fines for over-reactive document re-verification after past raids.
California lawmakers pledged oversight hearings and urged the Biden administration to suspend large-scale operations during the holiday season, arguing they cause “economic whiplash” and threaten public safety when high-speed chases occur in dense urban areas.
The sweeps form part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a renewed interior-enforcement push aimed at sanctuary jurisdictions. Agents left “self-deportation letters” at several residences—documents offering to waive formal removal proceedings if migrants agree to leave within 48 hours, echoing tactics seen in the Midwest earlier this month.
Whether you are an employer seeking to verify staff documents or an individual looking to adjust status, VisaHQ offers an easy-to-use online portal for securing or renewing U.S. visas. Its step-by-step guidance, real-time tracking and dedicated support can help reduce paperwork errors and delays that often draw unwanted attention from enforcement agencies. Explore your options at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
Immigrant-rights groups say the raids are sowing fear that keeps undocumented residents from work and school, with local businesses reporting sudden labor shortages. The California Restaurant Association estimates a 6–10% drop in weekday staffing at eateries in affected neighborhoods.
For multinational companies with logistics hubs or retail outlets in the region, the disruption highlights the need for rapid communication plans, lawful-presence audits and contingency staffing. Employers are advised to remind managers about I-9 discrimination rules—some have faced civil fines for over-reactive document re-verification after past raids.
California lawmakers pledged oversight hearings and urged the Biden administration to suspend large-scale operations during the holiday season, arguing they cause “economic whiplash” and threaten public safety when high-speed chases occur in dense urban areas.
