Photo source U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement
LOS ANGELES — A 55-year-old undocumented Filipino immigrant was among 11 individuals apprehended in recent immigration enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Los Angeles, federal officials confirmed over the weekend.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the individual as Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez, who has been living in the United States without legal status. According to DHS, Veneracion-Enriquez has an extensive criminal history, including burglary in Ontario, California, and sexual penetration with a foreign object by force as well as assault with intent to commit rape in Pomona, California.
While DHS did not confirm sentencing lengths, public records indicate he had previously served prison time for his offenses. ICE has categorized him as among the “worst of the worst illegal alien criminals” targeted in this enforcement action.
Multiple Arrests in Targeted Operation
Veneracion-Enriquez was arrested alongside ten other foreign nationals, including six individuals from Mexico, one from Vietnam, one from Ecuador, one from Peru, and one from Honduras. ICE reported that all of those arrested had serious criminal convictions, which include murder, grand theft, sexual battery, willful cruelty to a child, and drug trafficking offenses.
“These were not random arrests,” an ICE spokesperson stated. “Each case involved foreign nationals with violent felony records who had been flagged for removal due to their threat to public safety.”
The agency emphasized that the operation was part of a broader initiative to remove noncitizens with aggravated criminal histories from U.S. communities.
Arrests Prompt Protests in Los Angeles
The enforcement activity drew sharp backlash across Los Angeles, with protesters flooding city streets over the weekend. Demonstrations took place in downtown, Echo Park, and Boyle Heights, calling for the end of ICE raids and protections for immigrant families.
Signs reading “Abolish ICE” and “No Human Being is Illegal” were seen across the city. While most protests remained peaceful, some turned confrontational, prompting mass arrests and leading to the declaration of a downtown curfew by city officials on Tuesday evening, June 10. The curfew, enforced from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., was applied to a one-square-mile area of downtown Los Angeles.
Civil liberties advocates say that while the detainees in this case were convicted of serious crimes, the show of force from federal authorities—and now, the military—has reignited concerns about government overreach and militarized immigration enforcement.
Trump Authorizes Military Support
In response to the escalating protests, President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum on June 7, authorizing temporary military protection for ICE and other federal officers in areas experiencing unrest or designated as protest zones.
The memo, posted on the White House website, states that military personnel may be used to “safeguard federal personnel, property, and operations connected with lawful immigration enforcement.” It applies to cities like Los Angeles, where ongoing demonstrations have disrupted federal activities and raised safety concerns.
National Guard troops have since been mobilized in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, according to Pentagon officials. The move has been sharply criticized by immigrant rights groups and local officials, with California Governor Gavin Newsom accusing Trump of “manufacturing a crisis to justify federal intrusion.”
As of press time, Veneracion-Enriquez remains in federal custody and is expected to be deported following completion of legal proceedings.
