By Jim Utter
Director of Journalism
The recent increase in raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Los Angeles area that rave resulted in protests across the country include nearly a half dozen car washes.
According to a report by KNX News 97.1 FM, at least five Southern California car washes have been raided by federal immigration agents over the past several days.
At least 26 workers have been detained from those sites in the latest crack down on illegal immigrants under President Donald Trump according to CLEAN Carwash Worker Center, a labor advocacy nonprofit.
The vast majority were workers, although one customer was also picked up at Culver City Express Hand Car Wash and Detail last Sunday.
A Philadelphia car wash in late January was the first public raid of a car wash by ICE agents this year.
The car washes involved in Southern California thus far are the Express Hand Car Wash and Detail, Crenshaw Imperial Car Wash, Westchester Car Wash, Touch & Glow in Whittier, and Magnolia Car Wash in Orange County.
Westchester Hand Wash and the Culver City car wash were visited twice, on consecutive days.
The protests in Los Angeles were sparked by immigration enforcement raids conducted by ICE. The situation escalated when President Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops and U.S. marines to the city, which lead to the widespread demonstrations.
Since then, protesters have blocked major freeways, clashed with law enforcement, and set Waymo driverless cars on fire.
A protest broke out at the courthouse in Hartford, Connecticut, earlier this week after an ICE raid at D-Hand Car Wash in Southington, Conn., resulted in the arrests and detention of four employees.
The Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights, known as CHIRLA, estimates that more than 300 people in the L.A. area have been detained by immigration authorities, but federal officials have not released exact numbers.
