U.S. immigration authorities extend activity in Los Angeles area amid street protests
U.S. immigration authorities extended activity in Los Angeles area on Saturday in the wake of protests at a federal detention facility and a police response that included tear gas, flash-bangs and the arrest of a union leader.
Border patrol personnel in riot gear and gas masks stood guard outside an industrial park in the city of Paramount, deploying tear gas as bystanders and protesters gathered on medians and across the street, some jeering at authorities while recording the events on smartphones.
'ICE out of Paramount. We see you for what you are,' a woman announced through a megaphone. 'You are not welcome here.'
One hand-held sign said, 'No Human Being is Illegal.'
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A protester throws a rock amidst tear gas from law enforcement during a demonstration after federal immigration authorities conducted operations, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in the Paramount section of Los Angeles. AP Photo/Eric Thayer
The boulevard was closed to traffic as U.S. Border Patrol circulated through the area. ICE representatives did not respond immediately to email inquiries about weekend enforcement activities.
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Arrests by immigration authorities in Los Angeles come as U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration push to fulfil promises to carry out mass deportations across the country.
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On Friday, Immigration and customs enforcement officers arrested more than 40 people as they executed search warrants at multiple locations, including outside a clothing warehouse where a tense scene unfolded as a crowd tried to block agents from driving away.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the activity was meant to 'sow terror' in the nation's second-largest city.
In a statement on Saturday, ICE's acting director Todd Lyons chided Bass for the city's response to protests.
'Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement,' Lyons said in a statement. 'Make no mistake, ICE will continue to enforce our nation's immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens.'
Protesters gathered Friday evening outside a federal detention centre in Los Angeles where lawyers said those arrested had been taken, chanting 'set them free, let them stay!'
Other protesters held signs that said 'ICE out of LA!' and led chants and shouted from megaphones. Some scrawled graffiti on the building facade.
Federal agents executed search warrants at three locations, including a warehouse in the fashion district of Los Angeles, after a judge found there was probable cause the employer was using fictitious documents for some of its workers, according to representatives for Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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Advocates for immigrant rights say people were detained Friday by immigration authorities outside Home Depot stores and a doughnut shop.
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CBC
44 minutes ago
- CBC
For some, it's #MeToo vs. #HimToo at the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
WARNING: This article contains graphic details, references sexual assault and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone impacted by it. Outside the London, Ont., courthouse where five former world junior hockey players are on trial on sexual assault charges, supporters of the complainant — carrying signs reading, "I believe you E.M." and "We Believe Survivors" — have been confronted by #HimToo movement backers with signs of their own: "5 careers ruined" and "E.M. cheated." The polarization echoes what's happening on social media and in discussions across Canada as this high-profile trial plays out, with closing arguments starting Monday. Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote have all pleaded not guilty; the complainant is referred to as E.M. as her identity is protected under a standard publication ban. On May 16, in a heated conversation with an unidentified female E.M. supporter outside the courthouse, a man could be heard speaking about testimony and evidence that have come up in the trial, but are being seen from different perspectives and interpretations. "Inviting guys for a three-way with a woman might not be the right thing. It might not be something you want your sister to partake in," said the man, giving his take on a text message entered as evidence. "However, it is not illegal when a girl is consenting to this. It is not criminal when a girl consented to this. Michael McLeod has had his career ruined. Hopefully, [McLeod's lawyer] David Humphrey can go and exploit what this girl's lies are." (McLeod has pleaded not guilty to a second charge, of being a party to the offence for allegedly inviting players to his hotel room to engage in sex.) The woman outside the courthouse challenged the man on his notion of consent in a situation where one woman is naked in a room with up to 10 hockey players. "She went to a room with one man," the woman said of E.M. "And she stripped naked and masturbated in front of the men," the man replied. "And then the man made a phone call and invited others to join," the woman countered. That discussion continued for nearly 20 minutes, while E.M. supporters chanted their support and shouted "shame" at the defendants as they walked into the courthouse. The Crown has emphasized the issue of consent is central to this case, arguing it involves whether the complainant "voluntarily" agreed to each and every sexual act while it took place. As part of her marathon testimony in the trial that began in late April, E.M. testified she only had consensual sex with one of the players: McLeod. She said that at other times, she was degraded, humiliated, spit on and slapped while being pressured into performing sexual acts she did not agree to on players in Delta hotel room 209 after a Hockey Canada gala in London in June 2018. Some of the witnesses, including Hart, have testified E.M. was an active participant in what they say were consensual sex acts, wanting "a wild night," asking the players to engage with her and taunting them when they didn't. Refuting rape myths Advocates of #MeToo who have been following the case closely say it's hard to counter rape myths online or outside the courthouse. "We see people online commenting these things, saying these hateful things, talking about consent ... talking about women in this very kind of demeaning and harmful way. Particularly, you know, very kind of slut-shamey [sic] comments, just doing this for a cheque, things like that," said Landon Kenney, a male allyship educator at the Sexual Assault Centre of Waterloo in Ontario who has been at the London courthouse to support E.M. Protesters clash outside court 2 days ago Duration 1:28 A large part of Kenney's work is conducting education sessions in schools, and with sports teams and community organizations on consent, healthy masculinity and relationships, how to be an active bystander and how to challenge rape culture. Kenney believes change will come through educating young people. In the meantime, he worries the #HimToo movement is using this trial to ramp up a "culture war." "The young men in this trial have become figureheads for a movement that they probably want nothing to do with," he said. "They have fallen on the side of a culture war even if they didn't mean to or wish to, where there are groups of people out there who have a vested interest in trying to ensure that conversations like this happen, that the messaging like this gets out online where, they say, coming forward is ruining these people's lives, [the complainant is] just doing it for attention — a lot of the kind of classic victim-blamey [sic] rhetoric." One of the observers in the London court every day is a man who identifies as the co-founder and director of False Allegations Canada, an organization dedicated to "aiding individuals facing the complexities of false allegations, providing a lifeline for those in need." He agreed to an interview request with CBC News, but only on the condition of anonymity. CBC denied that request. Kenney dismissed the argument that complainants like E.M. are making false allegations, saying that in Canada, most sexual assault allegations are not reported to police. According to a Statistics Canada report in November 2024, for instance, only six per cent of sexual assaults are reported to police and only one in 19 led to an accused person being sentenced to custody. They are less likely to result in charges and convictions compared to physical assaults. Kenney said the driver for the #HimToo movement is often the concern about false accusations, which he also says is very rare. "The statistics show [it's] very, very unlikely. People are far more likely to get away scot-free with wrong things that they have done than they are to be wrongfully accused of things they have not." 'Crown didn't have a lot of evidence' Opinions about false accusations and "buyers' remorse" — denying later that consent was given — are rampant on social media. It's also a question mark for some people who have been closely watching the London trial, forming their beliefs based on the witnesses' testimony and evidence presented. Steven Janowicz is a hockey player adviser at Elwood Sports Management near Detroit, Mich. He also coached boys' high school hockey for many years. Janowicz contacted CBC News, asking why the London case is not getting more attention in U.S. media. "If it would have been some NBA players or NFL players, it'd be front page every day," he said in a followup interview. Janowicz said he has raised the case with friends and colleagues, and most of them think, as he does, that "it was just a bad situation that they [the players] walked into. … I think everyone was hoping they were not the instigators." During the proceedings, court heard McLeod sent out a text message to some of his then teammates, inviting them to his room for a "3 way" and oral sex. Janowicz said he has been more convinced by testimony that E.M. was the instigator. "It has been tough for the players to relive that again, that whole experience, because I think in hindsight, again they're probably wishing that they never went to that room," he said. Janowicz wonders why charges were laid and how this ever got to trial because "it just seemed like the Crown didn't have a lot of evidence." Court heard that an original investigation conducted by the London Police Service (LPS) in 2018 was closed early into 2019 after the detective in charge, Stephen Newton, said he couldn't find grounds for charges. Under cross-examination recently, though, the now-retired sergeant admitted he had not thoroughly followed up on some investigative leads — for example, while he knew about McLeod's text invitation, he didn't try to get it, and he did not ask Dubé about the allegations he slapped E.M.'s bare buttocks. After a settlement with E.M. by Hockey Canada became public in 2022, police started a second investigation that ultimately led to the charges. When it comes to the issue of consent, Janowicz said, he was taught that when a woman says no, she means no — and that should be respected. As he read about E.M.'s testimony and lengthy cross-examination, "I've never heard her saying no. So I have a quandary with that. … I didn't hear E.M. say that, the Crown never presented that. "It seems like based on what everybody has presented, the Crown and the attorneys for the players, she was more willing for some type of, like, a raunchy sex movie. I mean, I'll just put it out there — it is what it is," Janowicz said. In her opening statement, assistant Crown attorney Heather Donkers addressed that question specifically, saying, "You will not hear from E.M. that she said "no" to the specific sexual acts that constitute a sexual assault, nor that she was physically resisting at those times. But we anticipate you will hear E.M. testify that when she was in this hotel room, at age 20, intoxicated, and a group of large men that she did not know were speaking to each other as if she were not there, and then they started telling her to do certain things — she did not feel that she had a choice in the matter." Donkers and others have pointed out that consenting to one kind of sexual activity does not automatically mean consenting to another; it's a continuous process and the absence of "no" does not mean "yes." Believing stereotypes Still, a new study conducted in Quebec suggests stereotypes about sexual assault are common, particularly when it comes to who is believed, who is blamed and what counts as consent — despite years of social awareness programs, including the #MeToo movement. "What we found is that a significant portion of the population still holds beliefs that still believe rape myths, which are erroneous beliefs about victims, perpetrators and sexual assaults," said Dominique Trottier, a psychology professor at Université du Québec en Outaouais and one of the study's collaborators. "Most of the population did not fully reject statements such as the victim is lying about what she endured or that she feels bad afterwards after the fact so she is lying about the fact that she consented," Trottier said in an interview. The study indicates 77 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women did not fully reject the idea that some people make false sexual assault accusations out of revenge. A quarter of all respondents — 27 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women — also expressed ambiguity about the issue of consent, particularly in scenarios involving alcohol, non-verbal communication, coercion and social power dynamics, Trottier said. People aged 15 to 25 and those 66 and older were more likely to express beliefs that undermine victims, the research found. Petition backing E.M. When Karen Barnes, Kelly Proudfoot and Tosh Southwick start chatting online, the topic can range from travel plans, to politics, to top stories in the news. Former colleagues at Yukon University, they've had a lot of discussions lately about the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial, particularly around E.M.'s testimony and cross-examination by the five defence lawyers. "The thing that really sort of struck home for all of us was that this woman was having to do this alone," Barnes said from her home in Chemainus, B.C. "I wanted her to know that she wasn't alone," Proudfoot added from Europe, where the Whitehorse resident is currently travelling. The friends wrote an open letter they tried to get published in southern Ontario newspapers. They also attempted to get it directly to E.M. through the courts. When none of that worked, they decided to put it online in the form of a petition. "We don't know your name, but we know your courage," it starts. "As women watching from across the country, we are heartbroken, enraged, and in awe of your strength. You are walking through fire in that courtroom in London, Ont. — reliving the horror, subjected to endless questioning, standing alone against a system and a culture that have failed you again and again. "We believe you." The petition has been up since May 12 and has thousands of signatures. Proudfoot said she has been touched by many of the comments, but also disheartened so few people have signed the petition compared to the approximately 40,000 people who have read it. "For me, it's the silence," she said, adding people seem afraid to support E.M. publicly. Coming from the hockey community of Whitby, Ont., and having worked for the NHL's Calgary Flames early in her career, Proudfoot said some people have told her not to get involved — that E.M., who launched a civil lawsuit, received a settlement from Hockey Canada and it should be enough. Proudfoot rejects that, saying her message to them is simple: "I love hockey, and I believe E.M., and I think there's lots more to that story. But right now, what I want is [for E.M.] to know that she has support and feel like she can go on in her life, that there are people that believe in her." Supporters of E.M. plan to be back at court on Monday as closing arguments begin. They're also planning events for the day Justice Maria Carroccia hands down her decisions — which could still be weeks away. Defence lawyers have already complained to the court that the protesters are intimidating the players, and "forcefully and loudly" advocating for results when they chant: "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now." Hart's lawyer, Megan Savard, described it as "name-calling, bullying, attacking."
CBC
44 minutes ago
- CBC
Doug Ford's Bill 5 is now law in Ontario. Here's what happens next
Social Sharing Now that Ontario's controversial Bill 5 is law, all eyes are on what Premier Doug Ford does with the new powers it gives his government. Bill 5, also called the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, empowers the government (among other things) to create special economic zones, where cabinet can exempt companies or projects from having to comply with any provincial law, provincial regulation or municipal bylaw. Ford pitches Bill 5 as a way of shoring up Ontario's economy in the face of Donald Trump's tariffs by speeding up major infrastructure and resource projects. Ford's officials insist the government won't exempt any company in a special economic zone from Ontario's minimum wage rules or other labour laws. But the wide-open way the legislation is written would allow cabinet to hand out exemptions from any law, whether labour, environmental or operational. Asked this week which laws he's considering overriding with Bill 5 — and whether any laws are off the table for such exemptions — Ford offered no specifics. WATCH | Your quick guide to Bill 5: Breaking down the Ford government's controversial Bill 5 8 days ago Duration 7:16 The Ford government has been receiving criticism from Ontario's opposition parties, as well as environmental and Indigenous leaders on their controversial Bill 5. CBC's Mike Crawley breaks down what you need to know about the legislation. "I just want to speed up the process," he said during a news conference on Thursday, moments after Bill 5 received Royal Assent, making it law. Ford then talked of how long it takes for a mine to get into production, an issue that is actually tackled in a different part of Bill 5: revisions to the Mining Act designed to shorten Ontario's approval process to two years from the current four years. Pressed again on which laws he would exempt companies from in the special economic zones, Ford said every situation is different. Ford wants to move 'as quickly as possible' "Let's see what companies come to the table, and depending on how quickly we can get opportunities and jobs, we'll reveal them," Ford said. Ford wants Ontario's first special economic zone to be the Ring of Fire mineral deposit, some 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, in the heart of Treaty 9 territory. The area is said to be full of so-called critical minerals, such as cobalt, lithium and nickel, in high demand for the tech industry. The premier said on Thursday that he wants to make the Ring of Fire a special economic zone " as quickly as possible" but has also said he won't do so without consulting with First Nations Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce says the province is already "consulting meaningfully" with First Nations and will continue to do so over the coming months. "We're all going to be part of this endeavour to really listen to those voices and help build a common vision for responsible resource development that unlocks the bounty of the resource, to change the lives of northerners and to ensure Indigenous share in that bounty," Lecce said alongside Ford at Thursday's news conference inside Queen's Park. The skepticism from many First Nations leaders is palpable. The Chiefs of Ontario invited Ford to attend their annual assembly June 17 to 19 and sent Ford a message that his attendance would mark the start of consultations on Bill 5. "This legislation, introduced without prior consultation with First Nations rights holders, raises serious concerns due to its far-reaching implications on inherent Treaty rights and community obligations to the land, waters, and wildlife," says the invitation letter from Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. The Chiefs of Ontario, the umbrella group representing more than 130 First Nations across the province, are warning of "resistance, on the ground, and in the courts" against Bill 5. WATCH | What the 'duty to consult' First Nations means for governments: What is a duty to consult — and how will it affect Bill 5? 2 days ago Duration 8:45 One thing to watch for in the months to come is whether the provincial government's push to fast-track the Ring of Fire is replicated by the federal government. Ford put the Ring of Fire at the top of his list presented to Prime Minister Mark Carney for consideration as a potential nation-building project. Ford calls Carney 'Santa Claus' Carney asked all the premiers to come to last Monday's First Ministers Meeting in Saskatoon with their ideas of projects that would be "in the national interest," either by helping to diversify the Canadian economy or to reach new export markets. 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On Friday, Carney's Liberals tabled a bill in the House of Commons called the One Canadian Economy Act, designed in part to speed up the approval process of major infrastructure projects, a goal similar to Ontario's Bill 5. One line in the text of Bill 5 says its purpose is making Ontario "the best place in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business." Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli, whose chief role is attracting companies to the province, says investors around the world are hoarding capital in hopes of some economic certainty. Will Bill 5 attract investment? "That capital that's building up needs to unleash, and we want them to know that when they come to Ontario, it can be unleashed very quickly here," Fedeli said at the news conference alongside Ford and Lecce. Having Bill 5 powers on the books means Ontario could try to entice investors to set up shop in a special economic zone, but officials won't say whether that incentive is now being dangled at any particular companies. More questions remain on how exactly the government will use other powers it obtained through Bill 5, such as the power to ignore the independent scientific committee that determines whether a species is endangered or threatened in Ontario. You can expect a backlash from conservation groups whenever the government uses that power, for instance by scrapping measures that would protect the habitat of a species at risk. What's unknown is when, where and with what species the government will take such a step. Another 'watch this space' related to Bill 5: what happens with the expansion of a landfill on the edge of the southwestern Ontario town of Dresden, which the legislation exempts from having to go through a comprehensive environmental assessment.
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
Man seriously injured after targeted stabbing in downtown Brampton
A man was rushed to hospital Saturday after he was stabbed in downtown Brampton. Police and paramedics responded to reports of an assault before 1 p.m. in the area of Main Street North and Nelson Street East, north of Queen Street West. Emergency crews arrived to find a man suffering from stab wounds. He was transported to hospital with serious, not life-threatening injuries, paramedics said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The stabbing was a targeted attack and there is no threat to public safety, investigators told the Star. Police have not released any information about a suspect.
