They \u201cthrew me into their truck without asking any questions,\u201d he told the Long Beach Press-Telegram. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s when the teen\u2019s 11-hour hell began.<\/p>\n
This episode took place nearly 75 years ago, but for Latinos in Southern California and beyond,
the same kind of drama is sadly becoming just another day of life in President Trump\u2019s America. <\/p>\n
La migra\u2019s long history of cruel and sloppy enforcement<\/p>\n
Rhoades and his co-workers \u2014 including a Mexican American \u2014 were driven down to Oceanside and stuffed into a room. When he asked to call his mother in Yorba Linda, an agent shoved him into a chair and shouted, \u201cWe\u2019ll ask the questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
After hours in custody, Rhoades and the others were moved to an immigration processing center in Chula Vista. It was there when la migra finally asked him for ID and determined what he was insisting all along was true: He was a U.S. citizen.<\/p>\n
Rhoades was finally released but offered no ride home, let alone an apology. His boss had to pick him up all the way from north O.C. At least he was let free; three other workers were deported.<\/p>\n
Tales of reckless raids are becoming more and more common<\/p>\n
As Trump pours nitro on his deportation campaign<\/a>, a ProPublica investigation found a month ago that la migra has held more than 170 U.S. citizens this year alone<\/a>. But this is not anything new: They also happened as far back as 1954.<\/p>\n Then and now, a president unleashed a scorched-earth deportation campaign in the name of securing the U.S.-Mexico border, clawing back jobs for American workers and winning back the homeland from an invading force.<\/p>\n This administration has cited Eisenhower\u2019s Operation Wetback<\/a> as inspiration for what Trump\u2019s migra squad is doing right now. He and his supporters have described the campaign as a swift, orderly necessity that can be easily replicated. <\/p>\n But the Rhoades case showed that anyone can be swallowed up by the government\u2019s deportation machine \u2014 and that la migra doesn\u2019t care if innocents suffer along the way.<\/p>\n What\u2019s that old saying? Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.<\/p>\n Rhoades\u2019 family didn\u2019t sue \u2014 they just hoped it would never happen again<\/p>\n The first newspaper stories about what happened to Rhoades came four days after his ordeal, when his parents let the press know they were seeking legal recourse or at least an apology. The Long Beach Independent wrote that they had \u201cbeen advised\u201d they could sue la migra for \u201calleged kidnapping, false imprisonment and placing a minor in custody with adults.\u201d <\/p>\n Rhoades, for his part, told the newspaper that what he experienced was a \u201cdaytime nightmare\u201d and that he was \u201cpetrified.\u201d<\/p>\n Immigration officials at first wouldn\u2019t confirm or deny Rhoades\u2019 story, telling the Anaheim Bulletin, \u201cYou newspaper [men] are trying to stir up something as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n But as the story spread across California, complete with a photo of Rhoades looking like a \u201cLeave it to Beaver\u201d background character \u2014 checkered shirt, chubby cheeks, fluffy flattop \u2014 immigration officials had to address what happened.<\/p>\n They blamed Rhoades.<\/p>\n Herman R. Landon, the Los Angeles-area director for Immigration and Naturalization Services, told the Associated Press that the teenager told his agents \u201cfalse information as to where the wetbacks had gone, which resulted in their getting away\u201d and had tried to drive off in a truck with undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he were a little older,\u201d Landon warned, \u201che\u2019d still be held and facing possible prosecution\u201d \u2014 the type of line that nowadays would seem natural coming out of the mouths of any Homeland Security bigwig.<\/p>\n To use another cliche about history: It doesn\u2019t repeat, but it sure can rhyme.<\/p>\n The Rhoades family ultimately didn\u2019t pursue a lawsuit. \u201cJimmy wasn\u2019t hurt,\u201d his mother reasoned to the Independent. \u201cI just hope it never happens to any other American boy.\u201d<\/p>\n The more things change \u2026 OK, I\u2019ll stop. Too bad la migra most probably won\u2019t.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s top stories Police separate two men outside a Turning Point USA event at UC Berkeley on Nov. 10, 2025.<\/p>\n (Noah Berger \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n Turmoil at California universitiesL.A. fire investigationsTrump administration\u2019s battlesCalifornia courtsA judge has refused to drop the murder charges<\/a> against a man accused of killing four Pepperdine students on the PCH in 2023.A former Baldwin Park police officer has pleaded not guilty<\/a> to charges that he stole more than $100,000 from the police union where he served as its treasurer.The mother of missing girl Melodee Buzzard was charged with false imprisonment<\/a> after authorities say she held a man captive in her home.More big storiesCommentary and opinionsJD Vance is loud, obnoxious and, in a very short time, he\u2019s broken unprecedented ground<\/a> with his smash-face, turn-it-to-11 approach to the vice presidency, argues columnist Mark Z. Barabak.Trump\u2019s demolition of the White House\u2019s East Wing reveals a fracture<\/a> in more than its architecture, writes guest contributor Rosa Lowinger.While Venezuela is under Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s rule, guest contributor Daniel R. DePetris argues, a change in regime still can\u2019t promise stability<\/a>.This morning\u2019s must readsOther great readsFor your downtime Back to the Body\u2019s \u201cart of adoration\u201d exercise aims to make all women feel beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n (Joyce Lee \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n Going outStaying inQuestion of the day: What\u2019s one special dish your family makes for Thanksgiving?<\/p>\n Peg Quinn said, \u201cWhen I subscribed to the Sunday LA Times in 1981, it included a free California Cookbook. I\u2019ve used the pumpkin pie recipe every Thanksgiving since – it\u2019s the BEST- and it always gets rave reviews!\u201d<\/p>\n Email us at essentialcalifornia@latimes.com<\/a>, and your response might appear in the newsletter this week.<\/p>\n And finally … the photo of the day Janelle Monae attends the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on Nov. 8, 2025. <\/p>\n (Eric Thayer \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Today\u2019s great photo, from Times photographer Eric Thayer, is of Janelle Monae on the red carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony<\/a> at the Peacock Theater. <\/p>\n Have a great day, from the Essential California team<\/p>\n Jim Rainey, staff reporter <\/p>\n
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Hugo Martin, assistant editor
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
June Hsu, editorial fellow
Andrew Campa, weekend reporter
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters<\/p>\n