It began with co-ordinated raids on locations throughout Los Angeles on Friday.

Immigration officials, backed by heavily armed FBI officers with assault weapons and body armour, stormed a clothing factory and at least two other locations in Latino areas of the city, trying to make good on orders to ramp-up the pace of deportations.

Crowds gathered outside Ambiance Apparel in the city’s Fashion District within minutes.

“You do not have to sign anything,” shouted a protester with a bullhorn dispensing free legal advice.

Officers there said they were armed with search warrants to investigate “fictitious employee documents”.

Videos posted online captured what happened next .

A masked protester places himself in front of an SUV carrying detainees as he tries to thwart the arrests.

Then

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