June 22, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Customs and Border Patrol Agents Accused of Depriving LAX Detainees of Civil Rights

Customs and Border Patrol agents who recently detained travelers at Los Angeles International Airport following President Donald Trump’s immigration executive order deprived some detainees of food and water, solicited bribes and confiscated people’s cell phones, a civil rights attorney told a City Council panel Tuesday.

Speaking during a hearing convened by the committee to review the local impacts of Trump’s order, Jennie Pasquarella, director of immigrant rights and a staff attorney for the ACLU of Southern California, said some detainees at LAX also reported being held for 24 hours or more in rooms without beds, and some were pressured into signing documents relinquishing their rights while being threatened with jail or permanent deportation.

One man, afraid to return to Iran, was forcibly carried onto a plane and placed there by customs agents, and a woman with a sick baby was not allowed to get the child baby food, she said.

A spokeswoman with the Customs and Border Patrol did not respond to a request to comment.

Pasquarella said the ACLU was contacted by 329 people who were detained at LAX after Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 27 halting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Pasquarella’s comments to the committee were made in response to a council motion calling for a report from airport officials into how Trump’s order impacted LAX, which the city operates, although it does not have jurisdiction over the area controlled by Customs and Border Patrol.

Pasquarella said some of the detainees were coerced into signing documents relinquishing their immigration status. The detainees were provided a “false choice — either you sign this document and you can go home and there will be no consequence to you, or you don’t and we are going to deport you anyway and you have a lifetime ban from coming back to the United States.”

She added that others said they were threatened with prison if they did not sign, and that one woman said she was told she would be sent to prison, “and the only way she could get out is if she paid $160 to CBP agents, essentially that the CBP agents were bribing them.”

The committee also heard from a woman who only identified herself as Sara, who said she is an Iranian national with a valid student visa and was detained for 23 hours. She said she was deprived of food except for granola bars, applesauce, juice and water for long periods.

Sara also said a customs agent told her either she had to sign a document saying she was voluntarily leaving the country, or she would be forcibly removed and would be banned from returning for one to five years or longer.

“The way this was said was not like it was an option. It was just like either you will do it or we will force you, it was said in a very harsh way,” Sara said.

Sara reported she was eventually put on a plane for Vienna. She was not able to return until after a federal judge temporarily stopped the travel ban on Saturday.

“There have been a lot of dark times in our county’s history. But what you just described has to rank right up there among them,” Councilman Paul Krekorian said.

“For the full force of the United States government to do that, and for you to experience what you experienced, is not a country that I recognize.”

Krekorian added that “every detail was horrifying.”

Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who chairs the committee, said he was “appalled” at Sara’s treatment and that it sounded like the situation at LAX was “much worse than I imagined.”

The committee added amendments to the motion, asking Los Angeles World Airports to look into helping provide detainees with food, water, blankets and access to lawyers in the future, and to work with CBP to establish a protocol for LAWA officials to inspect the holding areas. It also asked for the motion to engage the Red Cross to find out if it would have access to the customs area under international law.

LAX

Related Posts

LA City Councilwomen Yaroslavsky and Jurado Call for Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Raids

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

City Motion Targets Alleged Unconstitutional Tactics, End Qualified Immunity for Fed Officers  City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Ysabel Jurado introduced...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

Princess Diana’s Largest Wardrobe Auction Set for Beverly Hills

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Over 200 Royal Garments to Hit the Auction Block for Charity More than 200 garments and royal artifacts, including the...

Queer Beauty Through the Ages: Getty Hosts Lecture on Greek Art’s Influence on LGBTQ Aesthetics

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Art Historian to Trace Homoerotic Imagery From Ancient Greece to Modern Queer Identity As part of its ongoing Pride Month...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Navy Vietnam Vet Finally Gets His UCLA Commencement Moment

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

John Fong, 80, Missed His Graduation in 1968 While in Vietnam  Nearly six decades after completing his studies, U.S. Navy...

Culver City Launches Solidarity Campaign Alongside Hate Crimes Report Presentation

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Join City Leaders on June 24 for a Community Presentation on Rising Hate Incidents Local officials and residents are invited...

Films, Flair, and Panoramas: Free Cultural Events Light Up The Ebell This Week

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

The Ebell Theatre Hosts a Double Feature of Films, Plus a Coffee Talk A pair of free public events this...

Culver City Police Nab Two Suspects in Canterbury Drive Burglary Case

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Community Tip and Set Investigation Lead to Arrest of Repeat Offenders Culver City police have arrested two suspects in connection...

9th Circuit Court Backs Trump in Battle Over California National Guard Control

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Federal Judges Allow Trump to Retain Command of Troops in Los Angeles Federal judges on Thursday cleared the way for...

Nightly I-405 Lane Closures Begin June 23 for Sepulveda Pass Rehab

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Caltrans Will Shut Down Select Lanes Nightly Through June 28 The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced overnight lane...

(Video) Where great minds grow at The Willows Community School

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The Willows, a DK-8 co-educational school, enrolls 474 students from 57+ zip codes annually. As a balanced, progressive educational leader, experiential learning,...

(Video) The Guest List Collab Dinner with Chef Raphael Lunetta and Chef Alan Wong

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Held at Marelle Restaurant at The Sandbourne Hotel in Santa Monica. An Incredible mix of Hawaiian and Santa Monica’s flavors...

Summer Pop-Ups Serve Crullers, Challah Donuts, Croissants, Coffee and Musical Vibes

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Nyletta Nyletta, Challah Dad, Des Croissants Paris Bring Pastry Delights to Culver City A pair of sweet summer pop-ups are...