Around 12:30 pm on Thursday, January 15, three Guatemalans, one of them a street vendor offering fried chicken on the sidewalk outside the Guatemalan Consulate in Los Angeles, were arrested by Border Patrol agents in a surprise operation that filled the Guatemalan community with fear. He resides in the city of Los Angeles.

According to a statement released by the Guatemalan Consulate in Los Angeles, two of the three detainees have already been released.

It was reported that medical and legal assistance was provided to two Guatemalans who were injured during the operation by immigration agents outside the consular headquarters.

The incident forced the Consulate to open its doors to allow entry to the people who were waiting outside and who were frightened by the presence of the federal agents; and remained inside until they felt safe to leave.

“This is the first time that US immigration authorities have conducted an operation on a street near the Guatemalan Consulate,” consular officials said.

For this reason, they requested information from the Border Patrol regarding the detainees, and that is when they were informed that two had already been released.

Guatemalan Consul Angel Salazar was unavailable for an interview with La Opinion, but sent a statement issued after the operation on the sidewalks of his facilities in Los Angeles.

“Immigration operations in the vicinity of consular offices disturb the tranquility of Guatemalan consular offices, and therefore, undermine the facilities that must be guaranteed by the receiving State for their proper functioning,” they stated in the communique.

And they reaffirmed their commitment to provide care and protection to anyone who requires it.

Walter Batres, president of The Guatemalan Migrant Network in Los Angeles said the operation in which three Guatemalans were detained was very quick. "They had it planned. ICE sends people to observe before carrying out an operation. In the places where they usually operate, "I've had encounters with people who act like they're lost, and they travel in unidentified vehicles and just observe."He explained that he has used the tactic of surprising them and approaching them, offering services. “I ask them how I can help, they respond, 'No, I don't want anything,' and they leave quickly, as if taken back." However, he said that the operation in the vicinity of the Guatemalan Consulate in Los Angeles is very worrying because consular offices are supposed to have a certain exclusivity and protection. “It's the country's territory where it's located, and it seems to me that there can't be police activity or operations 100 meters away; “And that has to be respected, unless it's an emergency for which the Consulate has requested assistance,” he said. Batres believes the immigration operation has caused such alarm that people will not come to process their documents for fear of immigration officials showing up. "I knew one of those arrested; he was a roasted chicken vendor. I also know they tried to arrest a minor, but one of the agents was burned when the boy, out of fear, threw some hot tongs at him," he said. He explained that on Newell Street, next to the Consulate, street vendors set up to offer food to Guatemalans who come to process their documents. “In that area, there are no places to buy anything to eat; “And since people sometimes lose their entire morning and leave hungry, food vendors have come to fill the need for food and drinks outside the Consulate,” Batres said. He added that the Home Depot store, where many immigration raids have taken place, is also very close by. “The Guatemalan Consulate is in that corridor, which has been an ICE operations center.” The Guatemalan leader said that under the current administration, they are facing a dirty war with a direct attack on Latino culture, in which they will use any trick to meet their quota of arresting 3,000 people a day. “They arrest taco vendors, street vendors, painters, gardeners, and workers based on racial profiling, accent, and the type of job they do.” Batres said that at the end of January they will travel to Guatemala to meet with high-ranking federal government officials, and in light of the immigrant hunt that is taking place They will request that renewal documents be done online. "They already have the signature and the photo; Guatemalans would only have to make the payment online to renew a passport or any other document. This would avoid overcrowding at consulates and exposing people to immigration officials, in addition to them losing a day of work."They waste gas and clog up the freeways.”

The Guatemalan Consulate in Los Angeles has a large courtyard, so there's no need to keep people lining up around the building.

“It's absurd! They're attracting the attention of federal agents when they could line up inside the building and be protected.”

The Guatemalan Consulate in Los Angeles is located on Riverside Street at the corner of Newell Street, off Highway 5.