ICE agents involved in immigration raids in the Los Angeles area last summer referred to the subjects of their operations using racial slurs, according to court documents made public on Monday, July 28th, 2026.

The documents include a text message from July 4th, 2025, in which an unidentified agent wrote, “btw tonks everywhere selling food for the 4th festivities in long beach right now,” using an anti-immigrant slur previously flagged by the US Border Patrol. Another message from July 2nd, 2025, disparaged individuals with the phrase, “Some of these people are stupid. Why would you post on social media that you’re wet,” employing a derogatory term historically used against undocumented Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande.

These revelations surfaced in a motion filed as part of a lawsuit brought by five men against the Trump administration in June 2025. The plaintiffs allege that ICE’s stop and arrest tactics during the Los Angeles raids were unlawful and have requested a federal judge to prohibit further detentions based on race or socioeconomic status. Three of the men were arrested while waiting at a bus stop for work, and a fourth plaintiff reported being physically restrained and questioned despite asserting US citizenship.

Maya Joachin, deputy director of immigrants’ rights at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, stated in a press release that the records demonstrate “a pattern of racial profiling.” Additionally, Angel Santiago Tafolla, a US citizen from Anaheim not involved in the lawsuit, declared that ICE agents conducted raids at a car wash where he worked in Orange County.

These court filings highlight ongoing concerns about racial bias and misconduct within immigration enforcement operations in Southern California.

Sources