Club RAID Nets 36 – ICE Steps UP Crackdown

Federal agents arrested 36 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals during a raid on an underground nightclub in Los Angeles as part of ongoing immigration enforcement operations.

At a Glance 

  • ICE and Homeland Security agents arrested 36 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals at an underground nightclub in Los Angeles
  • All detainees were arrested for being unlawfully present in the United States
  • The operation involved HSI Los Angeles, ERO Los Angeles, and the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force
  • The exact location and details about the nightclub were not disclosed to the public
  • ICE recently announced leadership changes with Ken Genalo retiring after 33 years of service

Federal Raid Details

Homeland Security Investigations’ Los Angeles office conducted an early morning enforcement operation targeting an underground nightclub in Los Angeles. The operation resulted in the arrest of 36 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals who were allegedly illegally present in the United States. Video footage from the scene showed the detainees sitting on a sidewalk with federal agents overseeing them before they were handcuffed and loaded into vans for transport. Despite the significant number of arrests, authorities have not released the names of any individuals detained during the operation.

Federal officials have been tight-lipped about specific details surrounding the raid. The exact location of the underground nightclub remains undisclosed, and authorities have not provided information about why the establishment was classified as illegal or what specific activities were taking place there. Additionally, officials have not clarified whether the arrested individuals were long-term U.S. residents or had recently entered the country. What is known is that the operation was a coordinated effort between multiple agencies.

Law Enforcement Collaboration

The successful enforcement action demonstrated significant inter-agency cooperation, involving Homeland Security Investigations’ Los Angeles office, Enforcement and Removal Operations Los Angeles, and the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force. This multi-agency task force was specifically created to target financial crimes throughout Southern California and includes members from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the California Department of Justice, and HSI Los Angeles. 

While details about potential criminal charges remain scarce, authorities emphasized that all arrested individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted of any federal crimes, the suspects could face prison time. This raid follows other recent enforcement actions in Southern California, including arrests related to a COVID loan fraud scheme, indicating an intensified focus on illegal activities in the region. 

ICE Leadership Changes

Coinciding with these increased enforcement efforts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a significant leadership realignment. Ken Genalo, ICE’s Acting Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, will be retiring after 33 years of dedicated service to the agency. Despite his retirement, Genalo will continue to contribute to ICE operations as a special government employee, working directly with field office directors to ensure operational continuity. 

In a separate but related enforcement action, HSI Los Angeles recently arrested 12 Mexican nationals suspected of illegal entry after they traveled by boat from Mexico to Long Beach. These operations reflect the agency’s ongoing commitment to border security and immigration enforcement throughout Southern California, addressing various methods of illegal entry and presence in the United States.

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