Los Angeles officials are exploring all legal avenues following a controversial immigration raid conducted by federal agents. The operation, known as "Operation Trojan Horse," took place on Wednesday near a Home Depot in Westlake, resulting in the arrest of more than a dozen undocumented immigrants.

This raid occurred just days after a federal appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order against indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven Southern California counties, including Los Angeles. Mayor Karen Bass expressed her concerns, stating that the raid appeared to contradict the court order. "It's hard for me to believe that that raid was consistent with the court order that said you cannot racially profile, you cannot racially discriminate," she said during a press conference.

The temporary restraining order was issued in July as part of a class action lawsuit aimed at ending alleged unlawful immigration practices. Bass described the court's decision as a "victory for the City of Los Angeles" and emphasized the need for enforcement of the order.

Mohammad Tajsar, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, confirmed that they are investigating the Home Depot incident and other recent raids. He stated, "The evidence available so far raises serious concerns that the federal government may be in violation of" the restraining order.

The United Farm Workers, a plaintiff in the class action lawsuit, also expressed their alarm over the raid, stating on social media that they are "deeply troubled" and have serious concerns about potential violations of the federal judge's order.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Border Patrol agents conducted a "targeted raid" at the Home Depot, resulting in the arrest of 16 individuals from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In response to the backlash, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson referred inquiries to the DHS statement, indicating no further information was available.

Acting Los Angeles U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli issued a warning following the raid, stating, "For those who thought immigration enforcement had stopped in Southern California, think again." He emphasized that the enforcement of federal law is non-negotiable.

During the raid, video footage showed Border Patrol agents exiting the back of a Penske rental truck in a parking lot to detain day laborers. Penske later criticized the "improper" use of its vehicle, stating, "Penske strictly prohibits the transportation of people in the cargo area of its vehicles under any circumstances." The company added that it was not informed of the truck's use in the operation and would contact DHS to reinforce its policies against such misuse.