ICE Raids Underground Los Angeles Nightclub, Arrests 36 Chinese and Taiwanese Nationals in Immigration and Financial Crimes Crackdown

LOS ANGELES — In a predawn operation on Friday, May 30, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided a clandestine nightclub in Los Angeles, apprehending 36 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals suspected of being in the United States illegally. The sweep, conducted in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Los Angeles, and the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, underscores a heightened focus on both immigration enforcement and potential financial misconduct.

Details about the nightclub, including its name and precise location, remain undisclosed by authorities. According to a statement from HSI Los Angeles shared via X, the operation targeted individuals "for being illegally present in the U.S." The involvement of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force hints at a broader scope, potentially linking the underground venue to illicit financial activities, though specific details of the investigation have not been released. The Los Angeles Times reported that further information on the probe was not immediately available, leaving the exact nature of the financial crimes connection unclear.

The raid aligns with a broader push by ICE to intensify enforcement efforts, coinciding with significant leadership transitions within the agency. ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons hailed the retiring Acting Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, Ken Genalo, for his 33 years of service. In a statement, Lyons noted, "Genalo has served in this acting capacity to help meet the mandate set forth by the American people — his contributions were integral in the successes we’re seeing today." Genalo will step down to serve as a special government employee, while Marcos Charles and Derek Gordon take on acting roles leading ERO and HSI, respectively, as announced by the Department of Homeland Security on May 29, 2025, per The New York Times and CBS News.

This operation unfolds in Los Angeles, a self-declared sanctuary city, where local policies have historically limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The raid reflects a broader directive from the Trump administration to ramp up arrests and deportations nationwide, a policy shift emphasized by Fox News and other outlets. The action follows other recent enforcement efforts, including the detention of day laborers in Pomona and farmworkers in Kern County, as noted by Yahoo News, signaling a widening net for immigration enforcement in California.

The intersection of underground clubs, potential financial crimes, and illegal immigration highlights the complex challenges facing federal authorities in a region known for its diverse communities and sanctuary policies. As ICE continues to bolster its operations, the impact on Los Angeles and similar cities remains a focal point of national debate.

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