A year after L.A. worksite immigration raid at fashion company, former workers still struggling

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A year ago, on June 6, federal agents descended on Ambiance Apparel, detaining dozens of workers in one of the largest workplace immigration enforcement actions Southern California had seen in years.By day’s end, more than 40 workers, many of them from Zapotec Indigenous communities, were arrested in an enforcement operation that became an early flashpoint in a summer of immigration protests across Los Angeles.On Saturday morning, a news conference was held outside of Ambiance Apparel to commemorate the anniversary.Lazaro, who chose not to disclose his last name due to ongoing concerns over his safety, is a member of Lucha Zapoteca.

He was among those detained and is now free.“It was a nightmare,” Lazaro said.

“Me, as well as our family members who are behind me, were separated from our family members.”Lucha Zapoteca was formed in the days after the raid, as workers and their families fought for the release of more than a dozen people.The group raised more than $300,000, found legal representation and helped free 11 people held in the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.A year later, many of the former workers are still living with the consequences.

Some have been deported, others remain in immigration proceedings, and many families continue to grapple with the economic and emotional fallout.“Our fight is not done yet,” Lazaro said.“Our liberation from detention doesn’t mean that we are free.

We are still facing a lot of challenges and restrictions.We are still fighting to survive, and our families are continuing to deal with the trauma of the separation.”In the case of one man detained, two of his sons are still in therapy to deal with the trauma stemming from that day.The father of four, who asked not to be identified out of fear of the impact it could have on his pending immigration case, said he’s come to rely on his two oldest children to provide for the ...