Multiple federal agents have refused to detain people who could be illegal immigrants in Los Angeles and said in disgust that some of the Trump orders they’re being asked to execute are ‘not right.’
Immigration agents working in Southern California exclusively told DailyMail.com how the scope of their mission broadened from targeting known illegal immigrants with warrants to being told to go after anyone who merely resembles an illegal immigrant.
‘F–k the rules,’ the agents were told by superiors over the weekend, as political tensions rose over the immigration raids and protests spilled out into the streets.
‘We’re going after anyone who could be illegal,’ agents who spoke to us on condition of anonymity were told by their chain of command. Those agents said they’d been told the controversial strategy came straight from Pres. Donald Trump.
Federal agents were brought in from other parts of the country, as well as multiple sister agencies, like Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations.
They were seconded to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in LA during immigration round ups that began last week that have triggered riots.
When the agents first arrived they were told they would be providing security for ICE and assisting with crowd control, as protests over ICE’s action has already spurred demonstrations from Angelinos.
At first, the agents were conducting what’s called targeted enforcement: going after suspects who had been pre-identified and who were being sought on arrest warrants.
But the mission charged as protests against the raids exploded into riots, with President Trump going over California Governor Gavin Newsom’s head to activate the National Guard.
U.S. Border Patrol and protesters clash after a raid was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement near a Home Depot on June 7, 2025 in Paramount, California
Around 30 agents wearing tactical gear were stationed near a Home Depot in Paramount and faced off against protesters, south of downtown Los Angeles June 7
And as political tension caused by that activation mounted, the agents were told their mission changed with the crude ‘F–k the rules’ riposte from a supervisor.
That supervisor directed agents to go anywhere they might expect to encounter migrants in the United States illegally.
‘We’ve gone to Home Depots, car washes, fields, restaurants,’ one agent added.
‘It’s not right. How do we know we’re arresting people who are illegal,’ an upset worker told the Daily Mail.
Daily Mail reached out to US Customs and Border Protection, the parent agency of ICE, for comment. CBP had not responded by the time of publication.
Another agent, whose also asked us to withhold his name for fearing of losing his job, shared they showed up to a Hispanic part of the city in marked cars.
As soon as the government vehicles were spotted, people started to run.
While some agents gave chase, others did not participate.
‘Me and the other guys from my group just stood there. We didn’t arrest anyone. It’s not right,’ he stated.
A man was arrested in Boyle Heights Wednesday morning after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents rammed into his car and pinned it between two unmarked cars
ICE Los Angeles arrested Carlos Alberto Escobar-Flores, a 43-year-old citizen of Honduras. Escobar’s criminal history includes a conviction for Grand Theft, according to ICE
Anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protestors on June 12 as immigration raids spread though Southern California
A California National Guard member stands watch at an anti-ICE protestors in Los Angeles, California on June 12, 2025 (Photo by Taurat Hossain/Anadolu via Getty Images)
ICE Los Angeles arrested Jesus Romero-Retana, a 52-year-old citizen of Mexico. Romero’s criminal history includes convictions for Threaten Crime with Intent to Terrorize, Battery, the agency claimed
The agents, some of whom are themselves Hispanic, worry they could be racially profiling US citizens or legal residents.
They also find themselves in increasing danger, with some protesters attacking them physically and others sharing the details of hotels where they’re staying.
It’s unclear how many agents are upset, as speaking out their concerns openly could get them in trouble with their bosses.
However, frustration over how the raids is bubbling among agents who fear ICE and the Trump Administration may be losing the public support across the country due to what’s happening in LA.
A new poll showed the Republican president with a 48% approval rating.
‘It’s sloppy work by (ICE) supervisors who are not watching what (agents) are doing because they’re under threat of getting in trouble if they don’t get their numbers up, and they’re not doing good work,’ a veteran ICE agent told DailyMail.com, referencing the daily quotas of arrests ICE has to hit.
Although originally given a target of arresting 1,000 illegal immigrants a day, Trump officials have now tripled the mark to 3,000 a day.
‘There’s enough work out there to do good work. Stop being so speedy and fast on everything, and we won’t have these mistakes,’ the ICE agent added.
President Trump’s orders to ICE agents have begun to rankle some immigration enforcement agents, sources told Daily Mail
He noted that when Trump took office in January, there were 1.7 million illegal immigrants had final order of deportations.
That means more than a million illegal immigrants had already exhausted the legal process, with a judge signing off on them being kicked out of the US.
All ICE had to do with find them and get them out, the federal officer explained, adding that some of the people who are being detained in LA in recent days may ultimately be released back into the streets after they get their day in court.
‘It’s just a waste of time,’ he complained.’
