The Westside woke up this week to one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement operations the area has seen since the raids began. Beginning around 9:45 a.m. on November 12, verified reports flooded the West Los Respuesta Rápida hotline and Telegram channel, documenting a coordinated sweep stretching from the ocean to La Brea and from Jefferson to National. By midday, at least a dozen verified incidents had been confirmed across Venice, Mar Vista, Culver City, Playa Vista, and Baldwin Hills.

Unlike targeted warrant-based operations, residents reported “rolling detainments” and “roving patrols,” with known ICE vehicles circling blocks repeatedly and agents in full masks and green uniforms approaching street vendors, gardeners, day laborers, and community members waiting at bus stops.

One of the earliest encounters occurred at 9:50 a.m. at Venice and Sepulveda, where six agents in full green uniforms detained a tamale vendor. Community responders documented the vehicle involved, a green Jeep with license plate 8ZMS302, a detail echoed in later reports across the Westside.

By 10:15 a.m., two gardeners were detained at Coombs and Barman in Culver City near Veterans Park. Seven minutes later, ICE vehicles moved toward the Best Buy garage on Washington in Culver City, where four white vans and several trucks set up on the top floor. Rapid responders approached to document the scene but were threatened with arrest before the convoy peeled west down Washington.

At 10:39 a.m., agents in the same green Jeep Compass and a silver Tahoe detained a person at the Venice and Beethoven bus stop in Mar Vista. Minutes later, reports came from Baldwin Hills, where a fruit vendor at the entrance to the Scenic Overlook was detained by agents in a grey SUV and a white pickup truck.

As reports multiplied, a second public alert went out: ICE was now patrolling a wider zone stretching from the coast to La Brea. By late morning, at least seven people had been detained, and more unverified calls were still coming in.

Near noon, ICE activity surged again. At 11:33 a.m., agents in a white Ford Border Patrol SUV detained a pedestrian on Washington Boulevard, later releasing the person after 15 to 20 minutes. At 11:40 a.m., ICE was spotted near the Home Depot in Playa Vista, though patrollers reported no detainments. Just after 12:20 p.m., another detainment was confirmed at the Culver and Pacific bus stop near Playa Provisions.

Throughout the sweep, community responders fanned out to staging areas, alerting vendors, gardeners, and day laborers in real time. The Telegram channel warned people to take alternate routes home and avoid normal commute paths, as several of the same vehicles were spotted making repeated loops through residential blocks.

West Los Respuesta Rápida emphasized that the raids were not isolated stops but part of a coordinated two-hour enforcement surge targeting outdoor workers, vendors, and people going about their day in public space. Their public guidance urged residents to stay informed, stay vigilant, and alert vulnerable neighbors. As they put it, a connected community can often spot a raid before it happens.

The group continues to document and verify additional incidents. Anyone with information or in need of support is urged to contact the hotline at 310-513-5539.

For those witnessing enforcement activity, organizers stress three immediate steps: get the name, date of birth, and emergency contact information of anyone being detained; document agents and vehicles on video; and directly invite bystanders or nearby businesses to come outside and form a crowd in support of the people being targeted.

After an incident, rapid response volunteers are encouraged to speak with as many people in the area as possible. The goal is to gather information, footage, and eyewitness accounts: how many agents were present, what agency they belonged to, where they came from, whether anyone was taken, and whether responders can contact a friend or family member. Even when information is limited, these conversations help build awareness and strengthen community protection.