Raid!

Mission Loc@l reports on Wednesday’s big Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid of the SRO above Taqueria Cancun (among other locations), a raid that resulted in a number of alleged racketeers and murderers behind bars and many area residents and activists up in arms over the tactics used:

At 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday morning the residents of the Prita Hotel, at 2284 Mission Street, awoke abruptly to the sound of a smoke bomb exploding on the hotel roof. Moments later, more than 30 police, SWAT and immigration officials stormed the building with guns drawn, residents said.

Lots more, including a wealth of criticism, here. And the SFGate coverage looks at the full scope of the operation, including busts as far away as Reno. Thanks, Mitch!

12 Responses to “Raid!”

  1. monkeeknifefight says:

    Aren’t we a sanctuary city? Why aren’t we standing up to the Feds?

  2. katgirl415 says:

    My first instinct was to be skeptical of folks that are criticizing these raids when they have also been saying that something needs to be done about the rash of murders in the Mission, several of which are believed to be gang related. Perhaps smoke bombs and SWAT storming buildings with guns drawn was “heavy handed”, but MS-13 is pretty scary – I don’t think knocking on doors and asking them to identify themselves to come downtown for a chat would’ve been the right approach.

    On the other hand, the fact that this was led by immigration seems odd to me. If this was about illegal gang activity why wasn’t it led by whatever part of federal law enforcement that is devoted to gangs & racketeering? Shouldn’t they have been leading the investigation? Or even ATF since they were buying guns? Although maybe immigration is where all the money is these days and that’s how they could put together the investigation. I’d rather they use the money to bust some fools than to check the immigration status of all the employees at the local taquerias.

  3. jimbeam says:

    A lot of times cops will grab people on whatever they can when they’re suspected of worse crimes. If they can grab MS-13 members on immigration issues, they will.

  4. guero says:

    I find it difficult to understand the people who make comments like Mr. Knifefight; why they state willingness to stand up to the feds but not to stand up to MS. Look, I don’t know if you know this but THEY HAVE KILLED PEOPLE, many of them innocent. Although, some innocent folks may get deported, the blame for that should be put on their gangbaning relatives who have been putting them in danger. I think the Operation,was a great success and NO ONE got killed. I’m a super liberal dude with socialist tendencies but I just can’t share your concern for MS, not at all.Sorry. Good riddance to bad rubbish. ICE, like them or not, probably saved many lives. I think people on the extremes of both the Left and Right have a real problem directing their outrage.

  5. zinzin says:

    laws are laws.

    immigration, shoplifting, murder, tenant’s rights….or otherwise.

    once the feds come in looking for real bad guys…it’s hard for them to think about local “sanctuary” mores (which in many cases i think is a really good and appropriate thing), and it’s hard for local politicos (or law enforcement, even) to say much of anything.

    break the law, face the consequences. i think that sounds reasonable.

    the thing that freaked me out was SWAT type activities 100 yards from my house…right over my favorite taco joint. that shit is fucking scary. then again, so is the MS13.

  6. jimbeam says:

    Whose laws are the laws?

    In California we have laws that are in direct violation of Federal laws. Who wins?

  7. zinzin says:

    apparently the feds win when they think about it for a minute.

    works for me.

    mostly they don’t think about it….

  8. Piruli says:

    I immigrated to this country from central america, and i feel that if you are going to seek sanctuary in such a city, then you should respect the law and play by the rules. Disrespect the law and the local residents, and be prepared to pack your bags and get the fuck out. As for the innocent people who were taken in, I’m sure that upon further investigation, those will be removed from the running of people to be punished…. I have no sympathy for people who think that they can get away with some of the shit that the Salvatruchas have, they need to grow the fuck up and get their shit together.

  9. zinzin says:

    thanks Piruli for a level headed comment.

    most regular folks i know who have come here from other places (from all over the world) feel the same way. common sense, right?

    it’s usually “progressive” american politicos and the immigrants who are suckered into believing their self-serving lies that feel otherwise.

  10. zinzin says:

    thanks Piruli for a level headed comment.

    most regular folks i know who have come here from other places (from all over the world) feel the same way. common sense, right?

    it’s usually “progressive” american politicos and the immigrants who are suckered into believing their self-serving lies that feel otherwise.

  11. neo displacer says:

    zin zin, how can you eat at the roach infested Taqueria Drive-by? That place is dirty and no amount of whole sliced avocados will make up for it.

  12. zinzin says:

    HA! i know. but it’s so close and i’m a creature of habit.

    what place is better in a 1 block radius?