At least five people were picked up by agents in two separate operations at Home Depot and Best Buy stores, according to advocacy group ÓRALE.
A screenshot of federal agents brandishing weapons outside a Best Buy store in Signal Hill Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
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At least two masked federal agents confronted witnesses with weapons drawn outside the Best Buy store amid multiple immigration raid operations, video and photos show.
During two separate operations at Home Depot and Best Buy Monday morning in Signal Hill, federal agents detained at least five people, immigration advocacy group ÓRALE told the Watchdog in an email Monday afternoon.
“Since June, we know that at least 40 people have been violently taken from their families and communities in Long Beach, but this number only represents the abductions we have been able to confirm,” ÓRALE said. “The sad truth is that the actual number is likely higher than this.”
Images provided to the Watchdog by a witness who asked to remain anonymous show at least two agents brandishing weapons outside the Best Buy location on Cherry Avenue and 27th Street. One agent can be seen holding what appears to be a pepperball gun, recognizable by the hopper on top of the weapon, which holds the projectiles. Another agent is holding a different type of weapon, which was pointed directly at witnesses as agents drove away, according to the anonymous source.
A screenshot shows a federal agent pointing a weapon toward witnesses outside a Best Buy store in Signal Hill Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
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The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for information about the type of weapon seen in the photos. The agency also did not respond to a question about whether it trains agents to brandish weapons at unarmed witnesses during operations.
The source said witnesses were yelling at agents while filming, adding that the show of force was unnecessary against unarmed people. At least one of the vehicles did not have a license plate.
“These agents taunt and point weapons at unarmed witnesses who are documenting these raids because this is a game to these people,” ÓRALE said. “They think acting powerful will intimidate and silence our community, and it hasn’t worked. They think these weapons give them power, but the truth is that we all have power, too.”
Raids across Southern California have been highly focused on specific groups, including day laborers, many of whom have been taken from outside Home Depot stores. National Day Labor Organizing Network Legal Director Chris Newman has previously called out the home improvement-giant, telling NPR in August that the corporation has a “responsibility and certainly a moral obligation to defend day laborers, who are both customers and service the stores where they seek work.”
Left: An image shows a van driven by masked federal agents without a license plate. Right: Unarmed witnesses filming federal agents who have weapons drawn. Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
Car washes also have been a hotbed of immigration raid activity, with masked agents regularly swarming businesses, without presenting warrants, to detain workers. Seven workers were taken from Bixby Knolls Car Wash in mid-September. Two weeks earlier, two workers were taken from Excellent Carwash & Auto Detail. In August, nine workers were taken during two separate raids at Andres Car Wash in Cal Heights and Coast Hand Car Wash.
Some of the raids result in no one being detained, as was the case at Naples Island Car Wash last month.
“That this hatred exists in our communities only amplifies the urgent need for more of us to organize and respond to these attacks on our communities,” ÓRALE said. “Rapid response and patrolling efforts have helped document these raids and led to families getting the help they need to navigate family separation.”
ÓRALE invited community members to become a rapid response volunteer. Volunteers monitor federal agent movements around the city, alert people when and where raids are occurring and film operations.
“No single person or organization can stop this on their own,” the organization said. “It will take all of us to stop the cruelty of this deportation machine and protect our community.”
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