LA's Korean American community on edge amid immigration raids, protests
Police officers are enveloped in a cloud of smoke from tear gas while guarding a highway onramp during a protest on June 8. PHOTO: REUTERS
SEOUL - US federal immigration authorities conducted a series of coordinated enforcement operations across Los Angeles on June 6, including in neighborhoods with a high concentration of Korean American-owned businesses.
The move has raised concerns within the local Korean diaspora.
The raids reportedly targeted areas in downtown Los Angeles' fashion district, commonly referred to as the 'Jobber Market', where several Korean American-run wholesale clothing stores are located.
In a statement released the same day, the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (Kafla) condemned the enforcement actions, describing them as 'unilateral and heavy-handed'.
'These actions by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) disregard proper legal procedures,' the organisation said.
'We urgently call on our local elected officials to take action and provide solutions to this crisis. In addition, we will work closely with local organisations to ensure that no individuals are unjustly harmed.'
'Even individuals who struggle with English or are unable to provide identification immediately are reportedly being arrested or detained first,' the organisation added.
'This has caused significant harm and confusion, not only among Korean nationals but also among local residents.'
The Kafla, founded in 1962, is a non-profit organisation that serves the Korean American community of Los Angeles.
Ms Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a democrat representing California's 37th congressional district, which includes a significant Korean American population, said she was monitoring the situation closely.
She specifically pointed to Korean American-owned businesses in her district.
'I am closely monitoring the ICE raids that are currently happening across Los Angeles, including at a Korean American-owned store in my district,' she wrote on social platform X.
According to The Associated Press, immigration authorities arrested 44 individuals during the operation.
However, as of the evening of June 6, the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles said no Korean nationals or Korean Americans had been confirmed among those detained. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Ukraine's drone attack halts work at electronic plant in Chuvashia, Russia says
Production was temporarily suspended at an electronics company in Russia's Volga river region of Chuvashia, some 1,300 km (800 miles) from the border with Ukraine, after two drones fell on the plant's territory, the head of the region said on Monday. The strike - among the deepest into Russia by a Ukrainian drone in more than three years of the war - caused no casualties, Chuvashia Governor Oleg Nikolayev said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. But "the responsible decision was made to temporarily suspend production to ensure the safety of employees" of the VNIIR enterprise where the drones fell, Nikolayev said. It was not immediately clear whether the drones caused any damage. Nikolayev said that another drone fell onto some fields in the area of the capital of the region, Cheboksary. The Russian defence ministry - which reports only how many drones were destroyed not how many Ukraine launched - said on Telegram that its units downed two drones over Chuvashia. In total, it said, air defence systems destroyed 49 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russia. According to photos and videos on unofficial Russian and Telegram news channels, the drones sparked a fire at the VNIIR plant that they said produces components for electronic warfare. Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has often said that its attacks inside Russia are aimed at destroying infrastructure key to Moscow's war efforts and are in response to the continued Russian strikes on Ukraine. The VNIIR Russian Scientific Research Design and Technological Institute of Relay Engineering with experimental production in Chuvashia is on the U.S. sanctions list, according to the U.S. Treasury website. A Ukrainian drone attack on the Voronezh region that borders Ukraine damaged a gas pipeline, cutting off gas supplies to 22 clients, the region's governor, Alexander Gusev, said on the Telegram. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Japan confirms China's aircraft carrier sailed east of Iwo Jima for first time
TOKYO - The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed through waters east of the island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, Japan's top government spokesperson said on Monday. Japan would strengthen surveillance and gather necessary information, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a regular press briefing in Tokyo. Japan has also sent "an appropriate message" to China, Hayashi said without elaborating. Iwo Jima is located 1,000 km (620 miles) south of Tokyo. A statement by Japan's Joint Staff showed over the weekend that the Liaoning, accompanied by some other ships, sailed in the sea within Japan's exclusive economic zone near Minamitorishima, a remote island east of Iwo Jima. Japan had also confirmed fighter jets and helicopters taking off and landing from Liaoning in the waters southeast of Iwo Jima on Sunday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
South Korea President Lee's election law violation hearing postponed indefinitely, court says
South Korea's Supreme Court ruled in May that Mr Lee had violated election law by publicly making "false statements" during his 2022 presidential bid. PHOTO: REUTERS SEOUL - A Seoul court said on June 9 it will indefinitely postpone a trial of President Lee Jae-myung on charges of violating election law in 2022. South Korea's Supreme Court ruled in May, before Mr Lee was elected, that Mr Lee had violated election law by publicly making "false statements" during his 2022 presidential bid, and sent the case back to an appeals court. The Seoul High Court, which had scheduled a hearing for the case on June 18, said on June 9 that it will postpone the hearing "to be decided later" without a date, a court spokesperson confirmed. Mr Lee's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The court said its decision to postpone the hearing was due to "Constitution Article 84", without elaborating. South Korea's Constitution, Article 84, says a sitting president is "not subject to criminal prosecution while in office" for most crimes. However, legal experts are divided on whether that applies to ongoing trials that were already prosecuted before a president was elected. The National Court Administration under the Supreme Court gave as its opinion that judges of each court where Mr Lee's trials are being held will have to decide whether to stop or proceed, according to its statement to a lawmaker in May. "The court in charge of hearing the case will determine whether Article 84 of the Constitution should be applied to a criminal defendant who was elected in the presidential election," the statement said. Mr Lee's ruling Democratic Party, which controls Parliament, is planning to pass a Bill this week which suspends ongoing trials for the incumbent president, local broadcaster KBS reported on June 9. The Constitutional Court may be asked to rule whether the Bill is unconstitutional, legal experts have said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
