"We're Not Leaving": Border Patrol Uses 'Trojan Horse' Truck for Deportation Raids

Unmarked Truck Raid Sparks Controversy in Los Angeles

A recent incident involving masked Border Patrol agents has sparked widespread debate and criticism, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States. On a Wednesday morning, a group of agents emerged from an unmarked commercial truck near a Home Depot store in the Westlake section of Los Angeles, leading to the arrest of 16 individuals. This operation, which some have called “Operation Trojan Horse,” has raised concerns about the methods used by federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws.

The raid began around 6:45 am, according to witnesses. A yellow Penske box truck approached day laborers in the parking lot of the store, and someone asked for workers in Spanish. As a crowd gathered, the doors of the truck’s trailer suddenly opened, and agents leapt out, chasing people through the parking lot. One day laborer, who identified himself as Caesar, described the experience as "the worst feeling ever."

Critics argue that this raid violates recent court rulings against the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement. A Friday ruling from the federal Ninth Circuit Court upheld a temporary restraining order that bars Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement from conducting roving immigration raids based solely on perceived ethnicity, language, location, or occupation. The ruling came after a lower court paused such raids in response to a lawsuit from immigrants and civil rights groups, who accused federal agents of racial profiling during immigration sweeps across the Los Angeles area.

David Bier, director of immigration studies at the libertarian Cato Institute think tank, expressed outrage over the raid, stating on Bluesky, “They don't even know who they're chasing! This is insane. Send them all to jail.” The Department of Homeland Security claims that the MS-13 gang has a “chokehold” on the area, which they say justifies these “highly optic immigration raids.”

Penske, the company that owns the truck used in the raid, issued a statement emphasizing that it strictly prohibits the transportation of people in the cargo area of its vehicles under any circumstances. The company was not made aware that its trucks would be used in today’s operation and did not authorize this. Penske plans to reach out to DHS to reinforce its policy and avoid improper use of its vehicles in the future.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of operations by the Border Patrol, which has raided the store parking lot before. Wednesday’s operation occurred as the agency continued to carry out operations across the Los Angeles area. Gregory Bovino, commander of the multi-agency Operation At Large, stated on X, “Different day, different illegal aliens, same objective.” He shared video of agents arresting men outside a car wash, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to its mission.

Los Angeles, home to one of the largest immigrant populations in the country, has been a focal point of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Federal officials have sent National Guard troops and Marines to the city despite objections from local and state officials, amid mass protests against federal raids. The Border Patrol has utilized rules allowing it to operate within 100 miles of any U.S. border to conduct large-scale raids across Los Angeles, Sacramento, and farm areas in the state’s Central Valley.

As the debate over immigration enforcement continues, the actions of federal agencies remain under intense scrutiny. The balance between national security and individual rights remains a critical issue, with ongoing legal challenges and public outcry shaping the landscape of immigration policy in the United States.