With decades of combined experience across a variety of units and stations, detectives Joshua Kelly-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn had deep law enforcement experience even before joining the Sheriff’s Department’s elite Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail.

“There are no words to express the pain and sorry we feel,” LA Sheriff Robert Luna said in a written statement in which he identified the three men late Friday. “These heroes represented the best of our Department, exemplifying courage, integrity and selfless service.

“This is not only a heartbreaking loss for their families, but for all of us,” the sheriff added.

Detective Kelley-Eklund first joined the department in 2006. After working assignments at the Pitchess Detention Center North and the North County Correctional Facility, he moved to the Lennox and South LA stations.

Kelley-Eklund mentored younger deputies as a field training officer before becoming a detective in the Narcotics Bureau and being assigned to the LA Impact Team. As part of that assignment, he spent years investigating complex crimes that led to large narcotics seizures and the arrests of murder suspects, department officials said.

Detective Lumus joined the department in 2003. He initially worked at the Twin Tower Correctional Facility, and in his off time joined the department’s Baker to Vegas running team. He worked a senior training officer and a detective at the Century Station and as a K-9 handler at the Special Enforcement Bureau.

Lumus was known for his mentorship and his arrests of career criminals, department officials said, and joined the Arson and Explosive unit last year.

Detective William Osborn joined the department in 1992, and after serving as the Men’s Central Jail moved to the Industry Station, where he rose to the rank of detective. Over more than a decade as an investigator, Osborn handled upwards of a hundred cases a year, and gained recognition for his skill at recovering stolen vehicles.

Osborn moved to the department’s training bureau in 2016, where he worked as an emergency vehicle operations instructor. But his love for investigations drew him back into the detective ranks, officials said, and he joined the Special Enforcement Bureau and the arson and explosives unit in 2019. He was considered a leader among his peers in the unit, officials said, often handling cases that involved damage to expensive properties or the loss of life.

All three men leave behind family’s, some of whom also serve in the department.

Det. Kelley-Eklund is survived by his wife, Jessica, and their seven children, officials said.

Detective Lemus is survived by his wife, Sheriff’s Department Detective Nancy Lemus, and three daughters.

Osborn is survived by his wife, Detective Shannon Rincon, four sons, and two daughters.

Information about memorial services will be announced in the coming days, officials said.

3 sheriff’s detectives killed in explosion at Biscailuz Center in East LA

LASD deputies David Anthony Rodriguez, a 43-year-old from La Verne who pleaded guilty, and Christopher Michael Cadman, a 33-year-old from Fullerton who agreed to plead guilty, used to work for crypto-businessman Adam Iza, 24, who lived in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, as personal bodyguards and/or advisors, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

The two were hired through another LASD deputy, 42-year-old Eric Chase Saavedra of Chino, or through his private-security company that often employed active duty LASD deputies and other law enforcement officers, according to court records.

Earlier in the year Saavedra agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and tax crimes.

In August 2021, Cadman and another law enforcement officer identified in court records as “LASD Deputy 6” intimidated and threatened one of Iza’s adversaries, according to the DOJ news release.

During a meeting at Iza’s office inside his Bel Air mansion, the unnamed LASD deputy held the victim at gunpoint, according to the news release.

In response, the victim sent about $25,000 from his bank account to Iza’s.

A month later, Cadman and other law enforcement officers pulled over and arrested the same victim in Paramount. In his plea agreement, Cadman admitted to assisting in the traffic stop and arrest for Iza. He also admitted to receiving cash payments while working for the crypto-businessman.

Cadman failed to report at least $40,500 on his 2021 federal tax return, which he signed and filed with the IRS in February 2022, according to court records. He admitted to owing about $11,000 in federal taxes that year.

Rodriguez admitted to lying to a judge to receive a court-authorized search warrant in order to obtain GPS location information associated with another victim’s cellphone for another client, other than Iza, according to the news release. Once Rodriguez obtained the GPS information, he shared the location with fellow conspirators, including Saavedra.

Saavedra is out on a $50,000 bond, and is expected to be sentenced in the coming months.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against rights. Cadman agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy against rights and subscribing to a false tax return.

Cadman faces up to 13 years in prison and Rodriguez up to 10 years.

Iza has been in federal custody since September 2024. In January, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud and tax evasion.

“There’s no freedom living in this fear,” said the man, who asked to remain anonymous due to fear of being deported.

That’s why community groups like Union del Barrio and Los Angeles Tenants Union are using their volunteer networks to provide warnings of potential raids so laborers and vendors can continue to find work despite the risks.

At 6 a.m. on a Thursday, Union del Barrio volunteer Francisco Romero and around 20 others are already out patrolling the region, documenting potential immigration enforcement activity or vehicles that could belong to federal officers. Two volunteers patrolled the MacArthur Park area with Romero, while others scoured areas across the county, including in South Central and Vernon.

In the last month, the group has trained hundreds of volunteers to check on reports of immigration activity and warn community members of potential raids before they occur.

Volunteers were greeted at MacArthur Park and later at a nearby Home Depot by friendly waves as Union del Barrio vehicles pulled through, marked with magnets that read “Protecting communities from ICE & police terror.”

Romero and other volunteers talked with day laborers, passing out fliers with information about Union del Barrio, a group that first implemented community patrols across California amid the civil unrest that followed the 1991 beating of Rodney King.

When a vehicle seems suspicious — often a large, American-made pick-up truck or van, sometimes missing tags or registration stickers — volunteers log a voice note with identifying information in case they see the vehicle again at an immigration enforcement action.

Romero said he and other community advocates can’t stop federal immigration authorities from enforcement activity, but they can push for greater transparency and warn communities when there are ongoing or impending immigration raids.

“Right now they have free reign,” Romero said. “They’re out of control.”

The Trump administration has pledged to run the largest deportation effort in American history, claiming the country is overrun with illegal immigrants. As a result, the federal government has aggressively pursued daily raids across Southern California and the nation targeting day laborers, street vendors, gardeners, farmworkers and others. While the administration has touted a priority for targeting violent criminals, many picked up in raids have no criminal records, immigration experts say.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and agents are highly trained and dedicated professionals who are sworn to uphold the law, protect the American people and support U.S. national security interests,” ICE said in an emailed statement.

The administration has defended its aggressive tactics including masked immigration officers who are often in plainclothes and use unmarked vehicles during raids and detainments.

President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said individuals who interfere with ICE operations will face charges.

“When you annoyingly impede an ICE officer, when you put hands on ICE officer, you will be prosecuted,” Homan said on Fox News.

In Hollywood, community organizers with the Los Angeles Tenants Union, a local organization demanding affordable housing and universal rent control, responded to the June 19 Home Depot raid by maintaining a regular presence at the home improvement store. The organization also sets up a red canopy across the street with a set of tables filled with “know your rights” cards and tenants’ rights fliers.

Every week day, at least one LATU activist stands near each of the three entrances while looking at each vehicle that drives in, like Union del Barrio does, for signs that it might be a federal agent.

If they do see a suspicious vehicle, a message is sent to their network of organizers. When a sighting of a federal immigration agent is confirmed, organizers alert laborers and vendors over a megaphone.

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, three men looking for work stood in the shade of a tree outside the Hollywood store. They all wore baseball caps and two had backpacks. The recent raid left many of them fearful of being taken by masked immigration agents, but they needed the work.

Next to the group stood a volunteer with LATU who was holding up a sign that said “ICE Out of LA!” Some drivers honked in support as they drove by.

Ren Marquez, an organizer with LATU, said the community organizing at the Hollywood Home Depot is a microcosm of how communities across the region have responded to the widespread raids.

“What we’ve been doing here is a little bit of a template for how other cities and organizers can create these mutual aid systems of care,” Marquez said.

Alida Garcia, a volunteer in a San Fernando Valley community patrol, was one of more than 500 people to attend an Adopt a Corner training through the National Day Laborers Organizing Network last month that connected volunteers and taught them ways to earn the trust of day laborers in their community. The Valley group, she said, is made up of a few dozen volunteers, including working mothers like Garcia.

“Everybody is just like everyday people all across the Valley who just know that what we’re experiencing right now is wrong,” she said, “and that we need to show up for each other.”

She and other volunteers have passed out conchas, coffee and resources to day laborers and vendors at Home Depots in San Fernando, North Hollywood and other locations around the area. When sightings are reported, the patrol warns day laborers in the area.

After one of the patrols, Garcia said, immigration officers raided a San Fernando Home Depot, and activists believe around 10 workers were detained. Once the community patrol got the report, they returned to gather witness reports and contact local elected officials.

Emma de Paz, one of the people taken by masked federal immigration agents on June 19 had been vending outside of the Hollywood store for nearly 25 years, according to a woman who sold food next to her. Though the woman is authorized to be in the U.S., she asked to remain anonymous for fear of being taken by agents.

Despite being terrified, the woman who knew de Paz returned to vending four days after the raid. She needed to work. She said she used to make enough money to pay rent and support her children, but business has gone down since the June 19 raid.

“If we can’t pay, we’ll live on the streets,” she said.

“Everything changed after they showed up the first time,” said the man looking for work to support his four children.

Before the raid, he said he felt comfortable being friendly and engaging with people while looking for work. Now, he’s on constant alert. He said less people are showing up looking for work and that some of his friends don’t leave their homes because they’re scared they’ll be taken by masked men.

The amount of work the man gets on a daily basis has also dwindled. He used to get three jobs a day, now he’s lucky if he gets one. He also said the amount of money people have been paying per job has gone down.

“They’re grabbing all these good average people looking for work,” he said. “Why are they going after us?”

On Tuesday, federal officers arrested four people, including community organizer Jenaro-Ernesto Ayala, on suspicion of interfering with law enforcement while they patrolled a Home Depot in Van Nuys. The four are accused of laying down homemade tire spikes to disrupt officers’ vehicles, officials said.

Ayala has years of organizing experience and took part in Union del Barrio trainings, Romero said, and he doesn’t believe the accusations against Ayala.

Last month, Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican and chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, also launched an investigation into Union del Barrio and multiple other organizations. A letter from Hawley claimed the groups provided logistical and monetary support to protests in Los Angeles that he said “escalated into lawless mob actions.”

ICE officials claim assaults on officers are up significantly and agents face doxing when their identities are known.

“ICE strongly condemns the persecution, assault and doxing of its employees who are accomplishing their congressionally mandated mission to protect the homeland,” ICE said in an emailed statement.

Activists are doing everything they can to work within the law and not be arrested, Romero said, but there are no guarantees they won’t be.

“History teaches us that if you’re doing something that is impacting the system,” Romero said, “you’re going to eventually end up behind bars. We understand that. We’re fully prepared, like I’m mentally, physically, spiritually prepared to go to jail right now. We have to be.”

Four to six feet surf with sets up to seven feet are expected; and those entering the water should keep an eye out for rip currents. Anyone trapped in a rip current should swim parallel to shore to escape, and then swim back to the beach, experts say.

“Rip currents are sort of the opposite of waves in that waves are energy going into the beach, and since there has to be an opposite reaction, rip currents are the energy going back out of the beach,” said Chandler Price, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s San Diego office.

The stronger and larger waves are, the stronger the rip currents will be, Price added.

Rip currents should be avoided. They are generally characterized by smaller waves or a lack of them.

“So, you know, that nice area of the ocean that looks calmer than the rest of them is not a good place to swim necessarily because that’s generally where the rip currents are going to be,” Price said.

Rip currents may also be a different color from the rest of the ocean, especially if they drag up sediment and sand.

The National Weather Service issued Beach Hazard Statements for Ventura, Los Angeles,  Orange and San Diego counties  that will remain in effect through Sunday evening.

The increased hazardous beach conditions are due to an increased southerly swell, and this one is being caused by a hurricane that developed off Mexico’s western coast.

The good news is that the storm is now gone, but the dangerous ripple effect remains for beach-goers in the Southern California until Monday morning, according to Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the NWS. Southerly facing beaches and beaches near jetties will see an increase in stronger rip currents.

Newport Beach Lifeguards on social media reported rescuing 10 swimmers from “monster rip currents” on the Fourth of July, a small fraction of the 350+ rescues made in Newport Beach that Friday.

Huntington Beach lifeguards rescued 152 people on the Fourth of July.

“The powerful surf produced rip currents that were pulling hundreds of yards offshore into deeper water,” Huntington Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division Chief Trevor McDonald said in a news release. “It was common to see large wave sets roll through, followed by multiple monster rip currents forming at once and pulling water — and swimmers — rapidly out to sea.”

Brad Herzog, captain at OC Lifeguards, recommended people check lifeguard station flags. A green flag indicates the lowest threat level, whereas the red flag, indicative of the highest threat level, means only experts, such as lifeguards, can go into the water.

Here are other recommendations from experts on how beach-goers can keep themselves safe amid the presence of dangerous rip currents:

• Swim near a lifeguard
• Keep an eye on everyone in your group
• Stay hydrated
• Know what rip currents look like and avoid them
• Know how to get out of a rip current

If you do find yourself caught in a rip current, don’t try to swim back to shore because you’ll likely tire yourself out. Experts recommend swimming parallel to shore until you’re out of the rip current. Once you’re out, it’s then time to swim back to shore.

According to Lund, if another hurricane forms off Mexico’s western coast this week, Southern Californians could expect to see another round of increased beach hazards by Friday.

On Tuesday, June 24, Huntington Park police officers located a suspicious black Dodge Durango illegally parked in a handicap zone in the 7000 block of South Alameda Street, city officials said.

The vehicle had mounted red and blue LED lights, police-like radios, and a semi-automatic firearm magazine, officers observed. The driver, 24-year-old Fernando Diaz, returned to his vehicle, approached officers, and tried to play off their findings by saying he was a former Customs and Border Protection agent, Huntington Park Police Chief Cosme Lozano said.

Upon further inspection, officers said, they discovered the following items in Diaz’s vehicle, which were displayed at a Friday news conference: an official-looking documents with the labels “Homeland Security Investigations” and “Customs and Border Protection”; a sheet with Border Patrol radio codes, at least two copies of passports that don’t belong to Diaz, and multiple cellphones.

Officers said he failed to provide any valid credentials.

The officers discovered that Diaz has an outstanding DUI warrant. Diaz also had a prior arrest record related to human smuggling, according to Lozano, who did not elaborate on that.

Diaz was arrested in connection with the outstanding warrant and on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, according to a city spokesperson. An investigation into Diaz’s alleged impersonation of a federal officer remains ongoing.

He was released on $5,000 bail earlier in the week.

“This arrest raises concerns about public safety, organized criminal activity, and the urgent need for all enforcement personnel operating in our community to properly identify themselves,” Lozano said. “What began as a routine citation has quickly turned into a far more disturbing investigation.”

The arrest came amid immigration enforcement sweeps across Southern California, typically by armed federal agents wearing face-covering masks and civilian clothing, and reportedly producing no badges or identification. They generally wear vests that say “ICE,” “Border Patrol” or “Homeland Security.”

Federal officials say the agents wear masks to protect themselves and their families from attacks by protesters. But critics have said hiding their identities makes it easy for imposters.

Chief Lozano said 911 calls for possible kidnappings is up about 10% since the beginning of widespread immigration raids in Los Angeles three weeks ago.

He said officers are dispatched if the situation warrants to verify the identity of supposed federal agents. “The protocol is to send an officer and a supervisor to the location for them to attempt or accomplish contact with the federal agents and validate their official status,” Lozano said. That may include asking the alleged federal agent to present a form of badge or ID card.

Chief Lozano added that his department has, so far, not faced a lack of cooperation from federal agents when asked to verify their names and the agency they work for.

On Wednesday, the Huntington Park city council approved a motion directing local law enforcement officers to verify the identity of anyone in the city claiming to be a federal immigration agent.

Immigration arrests by ‘masked and unidentified individuals … are abductions,’ says Huntington Park mayor

Riveros, 35, died after being struck by gunfire on May 31 shortly after arriving at the Baldwin Park home where the shots were being fired. Another man, 43-year-old Darius Wong, also was killed by gunfire, and a fellow officer was wounded. A suspect has been charged in the killings.

On Thursday, friends and family of Riveros, and officers from various police departments across Southern California, filled thousands of seats at the Ontario stadium for the memorial service. A bagpipe procession opened the sorrowful event. Riveros’ casket was draped in a U.S. flag and sat below the stage, while flowers propped up on stands stood to the right.

A large photo of Riveros looking back at the crowd was on display near his customized Dodgers jersey.

Martin Herrera, through a heavy voice, shared fond memories of the man he called his best friend, big brother and colleague.

Herrera told a story about taking Riveros to his first Dodgers game in 2017, and how that marked the beginning of his love for the baseball team. The pair traveled across the country to watch the boys in blue play ball.

“He was a true fan. In that same way, he was committed to the city of Baldwin Park, the community, the Baldwin Park Police Department,” Herrera said.

Lillian Moore gave her little brother’s childhood eulogy.

“I loved Sam before he was born,” she said.

She told stories about their mother would take her and her siblings to church every Sunday, and how religion played a foundational role in their lives. “She taught us the power of prayer and the importance of doing what is right and having a moral compass.”

That moral compass, Moore said, stayed with her little brother throughout his life and drove his dedication to serve others. “He had a conviction of being there for someone and that brought (him) joy and happiness,” she said.

Moore described her brother as adventurous, silly, musically inclined, sporty, intelligent, curious, musically inclined, an animal lover, and someone who loved his family dearly.

“We would come home and sit down and he would help (his niece and nephews) with their homework. When they were done, they would spend time outside playing lacrosse in the front yard or Nintendo Switch if it was too hot. He was always interested in what they were doing,” she said.

“He also loved to be the one to show them favorite shows and movies from our childhood and deciding that yes, they are finally old enough to watch that movie.”

Riveros’ mother, Lilly Goldstein, was one of the final family members to tell the crowd about the life her son lived.

Through tears, she spoke about how she wished her son had chosen a different job. “He chose a career that as a mother, I feared for his life… The pain of losing him is deep and hurts so deep inside,” Goldstein said. “Please don’t let his memory be forgotten.”

Riveros’ death marks the first line of duty death for the Baldwin Park Police Department, according to officer Juan Serrato.

Riveros had been on the police force for nine years and was chosen to be on the department’s SWAT team in July 2019. Last year, he was appointed to be a field training officer, according to police.

On Saturday, May 31, at around 7:12 p.m., Riveros and the other responding officer, Anthony Pimentel, were met with gunfire after arriving at the residential Baldwin Park scene. Riveros was hit and was rushed to a hospital where he later died, according to LA County Medical Examiner records. The shooting also left Wong dead and injured Pimentel, according to police officials.

The shooting suspect was shot by responding officers. The man was transported and hospitalized in police custody, and later charged iwith murder n the deaths.

Riveros is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn cemetery in Covina.

At around 8:30 p.m. on June 22, deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call regarding a vehicle versus pedestrian collision near the intersection of Katella Avenue and Date Street, according to a sheriff’s news release. The 66-year-old man who was hit has been identified as Jeffrey DeLaRosa. He later died.

The driver who hit and killed DeLaRosa fled the scene and is still at large. Authorities described his vehicle as a white 2007 Nissan Rogue with damage on the front end. The car was last seen headed eastbound on Katella Avenue nearing Beach Boulevard.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public for help locating the suspect vehicle and the driver. Information can be directed to MAIT at (949) 425-1860 or anonymous tips can be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS or www.ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers

At around 12:57 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, deputies responded to a call regarding a shooting on the 8000 block of Katella Avenue, near Beach Boulevard, outside of 99 Bottles & Cocktails.

Deputies arrived and found 48-year-old Salvador Ramirez of Fountain Valley suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, according to a sheriff’s news release. He was transported to a hospital, but died Monday evening.

The suspect was at large Tuesday. Authorities believe the suspect to be a male who fled the scene on foot early Sunday morning.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking the public for help locating the suspect. Anyone with additional information can call the department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers

At around 7:20 a.m., Edwin Guevara, a general contractor, received a call that federal immigration officials were raiding the store, and that one of his workers was stuck in the parking lot, so he drove over.

“They came out here, attacked our communities with our people vending,” Guevara said. “To see them run and escape for their lives really hurts me because day laborers built this community. … We built LA.”

• Also see: Home Depot’s day laborer haven turns into immigration target across Southern California

Federal officials rarely provide details of their raids.

This comes almost two weeks after large-scale immigration raids began across Los Angeles.

A local resident who would only say her name is Silvia was walking around The Home Depot before the raid began and was hoping to passing out “know-your-rights” red cards when she heard vendors screaming, “There’s people running!”

• Also see: LA County Board of Supervisors moves to measure economic fallout from ICE raids

She said she then saw two Border Patrol agents run into traffic on Sunset Blvd chasing after people. She walked back to The Home Depot and saw agents apprehending people.

Broken glass was next to a truck missing a window. A Home Depot employee said that was done by immigration officials.

At around 9 a.m., volunteers and vendors began packing up the food stands belonging to the vendors who were taken.

• Also see: Are SWAT-style workplace immigration raids the norm or a new escalation in force?

One street vendor, who did not want to be named, broke down in tears as she packed up her food station where she sold tamales, sweet bread, and juice.

The 42-year-old computer programmer, who also drives for a food-delivery app, has spent much of his free time in recent months moderating stopice.net — which he created in February, “falling asleep on my computer like every night.”

Austin looks at every report that pours in from the public about sightings of immigration officers, about 50 a day from anywhere in the country. He uses various data to try and determine if the report is true. If so, he posts and texts it to those of his 25,000 subscribers in the area of the sighting; sometimes, he also puts up reports attached with “Unconfirmed Report.”

His service is free.

“I think people see what’s happening in their community, and they want to do something about it, and Stop ICE is an easy-to-use tool that enables people to quickly get the word out,” Austin said.

ICE, of course, refers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Whether it’s for getting attorneys to a specific area to help people in court, getting people out to document ICE activity in their neighborhood, organizing protests or other actions to raise awareness, or even just to inform others that ICE is in their area and to take precautions — be safe and vigilant,” he said.

“We as a community can utilize (our) rights and assert those rights to build a broader infrastructure that we can use to further mobilize each other in our communities to get people out to these areas where these ICE raids are occurring,” Austin said.

Austin’s Stop ICE Alerts setup comes as President Donald Trump’s administration attempts to carry out its promise to conduct the “largest deportation” program in U.S. history.

In San Diego last week, agents raided Buona Forchetta, an Italian restaurant, and its next-door sister eatery, and detained some employees, with an angry crowd of customers and witnesses gathered outside. In Pomona in April, federal agents showed up in a parking lot of The Home Depot and detained day labors, perhaps15 to 20, accused of being illegally in the country. In May, ICE agents began arresting people after they walked out of immigration courts in Los Angeles and Santa Ana.

On Friday, June 6, apparent federal agents went to spots in downtown Los Angeles and took people into custody, apparently suspected immigration-law violators.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief and the key architect of the president’s plan, has said the goal is 3,000 arrests a day, a goal that might rise. Trump rescinded a President Joe Biden-era policy that protected certain sites such as churches, hospitals, and schools from immigration enforcement — a catalyst for the creation of Stop ICE.

“I immediately thought of my kids’ school and what would happen if they showed up,” Austin said. “I was looking around to see if anyone was doing anything in terms of like a rapid-alert system that would disseminate information out to the community right away, like to anybody and everybody. I was like, this has to be done because if something goes down, like at my kids’ school, I want everybody to know. Like, I want everyone to get mobilized.”

The First Amendment protects those publicizing law enforcement’s public movements, said David Loy, the legal director of the First Amendment Coalition and an attorney.

“People have a right to know,” he said. “People have a right to observe, document, record information of public concern and post it publicly and share it. What people do with that information is up to them, but the First Amendment right to freedom of speech doesn’t depend on whether people will do good things or bad things with the information.”

When asked the agency’s thoughts about those using apps and social media to alert the public about immigration officers conducting operations, an ICE spokesman provided a statement:

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement fully respects the constitutional rights of all people to peacefully express their opinions,” it said. “That being said, ICE remains committed to performing its immigration-enforcement mission consistent with federal law and agency policy.”

In 2000, a 17-year-old Austin created a website called Raise The Fist. People could post their articles and engage with others in the comment section or in debate forums, he said. Content included subjects such as protesting the Los Angeles Democratic National Convention and boycotting Nike for its alleged use of sweatshops.

Two years later, his mother’s North Hollywood home was raided by federal agents, Austin said, with them leaving with his computers. Another user posted a link on Raise The Fist that went to another website, he said, that included instructions on how to create molotov cocktails. In 2003, Austin agreed to a plea deal to spend one year in prison. He had been charged with the distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction, according to court records.

Austin talked in detail about the case during interviews with the Southern California News Group, saying he didn’t do anything wrong, he only ran his website, that he didn’t have anything to do with the molotov cocktail recipe. Looking at potentially spending 20 years in federal prison, he said, he took the plea deal, in part worried about overreaction post-9/11.

His first website prepared him for Stop ICE, he said.

To protect his users, he does not store their phone numbers.

“Me developing this whole platform, I think, that’s a huge, huge, huge responsibility I have, because people are putting their trust in me specifically to safeguard that information,” Austin said.