Living an American Nightmare: LA Hearing Examines Lasting Trauma from ICE Raids

Lawmakers and community leaders testified at a congressional oversight hearing in Los Angeles about the deep and lasting harm caused by recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across southern California. Witnesses described families terrorized, public spaces emptied, and U.S. citizens swept up during aggressive enforcement actions.

Personal testimony

Andrea Velez, a U.S. citizen who says she was detained by immigration agents this summer, recounted being confronted by masked officers on her way to work. She testified she was booked on a charge of assaulting an officer and held for two days in a federal detention facility, where detainees reportedly had to pay for a cup to get water. Her attorney later secured dismissal of the charges, citing a lack of evidence. "I still live with the trauma every day," Velez told the committee.

What lawmakers heard

Democratic members convened the hearing to gather testimony about the human costs of the administration's deportation campaign and to examine alleged civil‑rights abuses by federal agents, including instances they describe as the unlawful detention of U.S. citizens. Attendees reported operations at car washes, big-box parking lots and near schools and workplaces, leaving neighborhoods fearful and streets, parks and houses of worship largely empty.

"Every person in our country has a right to due process, regardless of immigration status," said Rep. Robert Garcia. "It’s critical that the Oversight Committee document and hold accountable those that are defying the Constitution, violating civil rights, and terrorizing families and communities."

Rep. Jasmine Crockett added: "Right now we are living an American nightmare." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the raids "an attack from our own federal government" and vowed the city would hold federal agencies accountable and defend residents' rights.

Responses and context

Members announced a new oversight dashboard designed to document verified incidents of possible misconduct and abuse during federal immigration enforcement operations. The White House has said that federal authorities have arrested more than 150,000 undocumented immigrants and deported nearly 140,000 people since the current administration began.

In response to testimony, Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, accused local officials of circulating false claims about DHS officers and said the agency has seen a sharp increase in assaults on its personnel, including incidents involving gunfire, thrown projectiles and vehicles used as weapons. She urged acknowledgment of efforts to remove criminal actors from communities.

Impact and next steps

Witnesses and officials presented sharply contrasting views of enforcement operations: community leaders portrayed widespread fear and alleged civil‑rights violations, while DHS emphasized officer safety and public-safety goals. The oversight dashboard and follow-up investigations are likely to shape the next phase of scrutiny over how immigration enforcement is being carried out in southern California.