Immigration arrests in L.A. spark fear, outrage, but officials say they are routine
*Why you should read this: Because by all indications immigration round-ups have begun. Because there are reports of detentions in Texas as well. Because ICE says it’s routine. VL
By Joel Rubin, Ruben Vives and Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times (4.5 minute read) 
Read more stories about Trump’s deportation plan in NewsTaco. >>
The arrests sparked a protest in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday evening, with immigration advocates claiming that about 100 people had been taken into custody. But immigration officials disputed those numbers and said the arrests were part of routine activities, not tied to any new crackdown.
The situation highlighted fear among many immigrants about Trump’s vow to deport those here illegally. Los Angeles and Orange counties are home to 1 million immigrants living without proper papers, according to an analysis released Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
Some politicians said they were demanding answers from federal authorities about the arrests. Meanwhile, local police were fighting concerns that they were somehow involved in new immigration actions. Many law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, have vowed not to take part in the mass deportations Trump and his supporters have promised.
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[Photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times]
