Journalist arrested by immigration officials is released

"What's going on, world. Let's go talk to the people." Anyone who knows Anthony Orendorff knows perfectly well that this is the iconic phrase with which the journalist begins each of the videos in which he tells the stories that happen daily in his community. 

Orendorff was released without charges, according to LA Taco. 

On June 19, Orendorff was arrested in Pacoima by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) while filming and documenting an active Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation. To this day, the videographer remains in custody in the Van Nuys jail, accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer (California Penal Code 243) and has no bail.

To demand his release, Orendorff's lawyers, family and friends protested outside the precinct this Saturday. They also held a press conference to expose the alleged irregularities in the arrest and other possible civil rights violations by LAPD and ICE during their raids.

Ricci Sergienko, Orendorff's attorney, noted that his client was arrested while documenting an immigration raid at a Costco in Pacoima. As a result, the young man remains locked in a cold cell, away from his family and community. There is also evidence that Orendorff was beaten, as he has scratches and bruises all over his face and arms, he added.

According to the lawyer, there is no doubt that Mayor Karen Bass and the Los Angeles Police Department are collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), even though the city has sanctuary status.

Segienko maintained that, through a joint counterterrorism task force, the LAPD shares information with the federal government and also assists them during their immigration raids.

During the ICE operation in Pacoima, other people were assaulted, including Arturo Hermosillo, who was arrested by federal agents, and an elderly woman who was selling tamales on the street and was assaulted and hospitalized, the lawyer added.

Neighbors in action

Silvia Anguiano, a Pacoima resident, recounted that during the operation, individuals dressed in tactical gear, with a paramilitary look and no identification, carried out the raids.

The activist said that on June 19, she was informed that a group of individuals were stationed at a federal facility in San Pedro and were moving from there to the San Fernando Valley and Pacoima.

When the activist arrived at the scene, she saw that the paramilitaries had detained around 15 workers. "From there, the community mobilized, and we moved to Lowe's, but with them, everything happens in seconds, and I couldn't identify who they had taken."

For this purpose, they had attacked a street vendor, she said, a woman in her late 60s, who sells tamales and is a resident. It was at that moment that she learned that they had also taken Orendorff and Hermosillo.

"Anthony was documenting the operation when he was detained by the LAPD, while Artuto was arrested by ICE and taken to the federal Homeland Security building in Los Angeles. Four hours later, Arturo was released without charges, while Anthony remains in custody without bail," she added.

The LAPD has not released any information about Orendorff or any other detainees, she said. "Six days ago, I was arrested along with 13 other people for being at a site where a raid was taking place. There were people walking their pets, dining or on dates. The police only discriminately attack those within their reach," she stated.

Regarding Orendorff, she said he is a young man with no criminal record. The police, however, maintain a firm position against his release so that his case can set a precedent.

Protests in support of Orendorff will continue, Silvia said. "This Saturday, we'll be heading to Sunset Boulevard to protest against the Dodgers, as the sports organization has shown complicity with the LAPD and ICE. We'll also be visiting the hotels where ICE agents are staying at night."

Federal arrest

That same day Orendorff was arrested, Hermosillo went to the scene of the operation to support the community: "The first thing I saw was a woman on the floor," he recalled. "I immediately recognized the woman. It was the woman who sells tamales there, while people were saying the supposed agents had pushed her."

Hermosillo began to ask if the people in charge of the operation were ICE officers, since they all wore regular clothing, but unlike civilians, they carried weapons, tactical vests, and covered their faces. "Nowadays, anyone can act like that and commit a crime, like kidnapping children. They look like ex-military personnel and bunty hunters," he said. "To arrest me, they started hitting me and pulling my hair. The moment they managed to get me out of the car, they put me in a van and handcuffed me very tightly. They threatened to keep me in federal prison for life, since I was under arrest and they would press charges," he said.

After being taken to the DHS building in Los Angeles and held for four hours, Hermosillo was released, as he was not under arrest, just detained, according to what he was told. He was then told that charges would be filed within six months if they so desired, and that he should not leave Los Angeles during that time.

Hermosillo was a schoolmate of Orendorff's. As an activist, he has an organization called Boxing Revolution Reseda and also helps his community with various activities.

A mother’s pain

When Orendorff's mother learned of his arrest, she went to the Van Nuys jail. There, she spoke with him and noticed bruises on his hands. According to Maria Gladys, this is the first time her son, whom she describes as a very emotional young man, has been in prison.

Orendorff attended elementary school in Sherman Oaks and, as part of his professional studies, he has a master's degree in mass media, his mother reported. Among his activities is documenting the daily life of his community through the @aodream Instagram channel.

Now, she wants to know what really happened at the time of Orendorff's arrest and, above all, hopes for his speedy release. As a mother, it's difficult to go through this process, she said, because she's unfamiliar with some of the procedures since they've never had any problems with the law.

Updated June 24, 12:17 a.m.: Orendorff was released without charges.