With the ongoing ICE raids going on across the US right now, it’s fair to say that there are many citizens who strongly oppose the Trump administration’s policies on the alleged “migrant invasion.” While anti-ICE protests continue to rage on, an unsettling scene unfolded on Wednesday in Downey, California. Specifically, Downey Memorial Christian Church was targeted during an ICE raid, and witnesses saw several immigration arrests being made. Not only that, but an ICE agent reportedly pointed a rifle at a pastor as well.
In a clip recorded by a witness at the scene, several armed and masked agents can be seen on the property of Downey Memorial Christian Church. A member of the congregation can be heard pleading with the ICE agents in the church’s parking lot, exclaiming, “I have the right to be here! I do not have to listen to you. This is the property of the church. This is Downey Memorial Christian Church and we are not okay with you being on our property. All right?“
In a separate Instagram post of the same incident, some additional context can be gleaned from its accompanying caption:
ICE agents have raided a Christian Church in Downey! They SHOVED a PASTOR and pointed a rifle at them! Ya Basta! Alto a las deportaciones! Come to Downey now!
uniondelbarrio via Instagram
Press Conference: TODAY at 3:00PM Downey Memorial Christian Church. 8441 Florence Ave Downey 90240
In an interview with NBC News, one of the church leaders who witnessed the ICE raid, Pastor Lopez, spoke to a reporter at the scene and shed light on what he saw first-hand:
So I was at my desk, finishing up some things for a board meeting tonight and I happened to look up and there were three or four men just swarming this individual who was on the floor.
Pastor Lopez via NBC News
So immediately I got up, and called out to the senior pastors, my wife, and we ran out. I took out my phone, tried to record as much as I can. It didn’t work out. But I saw these men. They had masks. Had some plain clothes, bullet proof vests, weapons, and they refused to answer any questions. They wouldn’t let us get near, so at least to get the man’s name. We don’t know who this man was.
From what I understand from another witness, he was walking by, and they tried to pull him over and he walked into our lot and he sat down. They just swarmed him.
Later in the interview, Pastor Lopez describes a disturbing exchange with one of the ICE agents. When the church official asked the agents to “get off” his private property, the agent turned to Lopez and said,
One that was holding a rifle said that the whole country is our property.
Pastor Lopez via NBC News
As the clip continues to spread online, viewers flooded the comments sections on social media to air their reactions to the concerning incident. One Redditor wrote, “When is it time to defend yourself from masked men? 🤔”, while another chipped in with, “I bet if they were met with legally open carrying individuals, they would tuck tail and run. They are bullies who are taking advantage of people they feel they can“. A third commenter expressed, “New way to be a serial killer just dropped“
According to Los Angeles police, 200 arrests were made on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the majority of them comprising curfew violations and unlawful assembly.
