Border Patrol arrests an American activist in a community center in Los Angeles
Immigrant advocates claim Jenaro Ernesto Ayala was arrested and has practically disappeared and his lawyers cannot locate him
Community leaders and advocates claim that Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained and are keeping Jenaro Ernesto Ayala, a community activist and American citizen, "disappeared" during the raids in Los Angeles. California.
Ayala was arrested Tuesday morning during a raid at the Van Nuys Day Laborers Center, reported the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California (IDEPSCA), the group to which the activist belongs.
"Ernesto stood up for workers' rights," said Maegan Ortiz, executive director of IDEPSCA. "His arrest is a blatant attempt to silence those who defend our communities, and we will not allow this to continue."
The organization says Ayala is a well-known and respected advocate for immigrant and low-income workers.
"He was violently approached by federal agents while trying to support the day laborers there," the organization said in a statement. “This incident represents the third attempt by immigration agents to enter the worker center, a community-run safe space where day laborers gather daily to defend their labor rights.”
There is suspicion that Ayala is being held at the Metro Federal Detention Center, but his attorneys have not been able to access him or confirm that he is in that federal facility.
“Advocates demand that he be granted his constitutional right to legal assistance and that he be released immediately,” the organization adds.
IDEPSCA is one of the organizations seeking to help undocumented immigrants facing federal operations, under the new guidelines of the Trump administration.
The group condemns “the unnecessary use of force” in the arrests and demands “an end to ICE intimidation tactics at community worker centers.”
The chief of the Central Sector Border Patrol, Gregory Bovino, confirmed in a message on X, formerly Twitter, the arrest of Ayala, 43, as well as Jude Jasmine Jeannine Allard, 28; Sador Jarnica, 54, and Daniel Montenegro, 30, whom he accuses of interfering with the actions of federal agents.
“They face felony charges for placing homemade nails in tires to disable police vehicles. Anyone who interferes with our legitimate mission will be arrested,” Bovino said.