Following a chaotic weekend in Los Angeles, where thousands of protesters clashed with federal agents during demonstrations against immigration raids ordered by the Trump administration, Mexican officials said dozens of Mexican nationals were arrested and several others have already been deported as unrest continues across California.
Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente said on Monday that 42 Mexican migrants — 37 men and five women — were arrested over the weekend.
Protests erupted Friday after agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) carried out coordinated immigration enforcement operations throughout the city, resulting in the detention of more than 100 undocumented immigrants.
In response, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, leading to violent clashes with demonstrators across the city.
Speaking at Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's daily news conference, de la Fuente said the detained individuals were being held in four different detention centers. He noted that consular officials had compiled a complete database of detainees, including family contact information, and had already begun reaching out to relatives.
De la Fuente said most of those arrested were working at a textile factory in downtown Los Angeles at the time of the raids.
"These raids were carried out at two locations: one in the parking lot of a Home Depot near downtown Los Angeles, and the other at a textile factory called Ambiance," he said. "From the beginning, our consul went immediately to the detention center to identify and interview the detained Mexican nationals, gather information about their families, and offer legal assistance — which is fundamentally what we are able to do."
"In these cases, each person's release must go through legal channels. And of course, we've made contact with their families so they know their loved ones are being looked after, are in good health, and are receiving support from the legal advisory teams contracted by the consulates," he added.
#MañaneraDelPueblo. “La mayoría de connacionales en EU es gente que está trabajando y es gente buena”, subraya Juan Ramón de la Fuente. Informa que casi el 95 por ciento de los 4.9 millones de mexicanos que no tienen documentos llevan más de 5 años trabajando en EU. pic.twitter.com/L6vseTtosk
— Jenaro Villamil (@jenarovillamil) June 9, 2025
Of the 42 Mexican nationals arrested, four have already been deported. According to de la Fuente, two had active removal orders and two departed voluntarily.
As tensions continue to rise, President Sheinbaum condemned the violent incidents and urged Mexican nationals in the United States to protest peacefully and avoid provocations.
"We do not support violent actions as a form of protest," Sheinbaum said. "The burning of patrol cars seems more like an act of provocation than of resistance. It must be made clear that we condemn violence, no matter where it comes from. We call on the Mexican community to act peacefully and avoid provocations."
During the briefing, Sheinbaum issued a "respectful but firm" appeal to the U.S. government to uphold due process and the rule of law during immigration proceedings.
"In this sense, we make a respectful but firm call to U.S. authorities to ensure all immigration procedures are carried out in accordance with due process, in a framework that respects human dignity and the rule of law," she said.
Sheinbaum added that her administration will continue using all diplomatic channels to voice its opposition to policies that criminalize migration. She emphasized the need to address migration from a "comprehensive, humane perspective based on shared regional responsibility."
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