ICE Raids & Fashion Workers: A Community Lost
- Los Angeles – The families of more than 40 immigrant workers detained during an ICE raid at Ambiance Apparel, a fast-fashion warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, are pleading...
- Saraí Ortiz, whose father Jose worked at Ambiance Apparel for 18 years, witnessed his arrest.
- Many of the detained workers are from Indigenous communities in zacatecas, Mexico, and have built strong community ties in Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles,an ICE raid at Ambiance Apparel has left families in turmoil,demanding due process for over 40 detained immigrant workers. This recent primary_keyword has ignited civil unrest, with families protesting the lack of access to their loved ones and lawyers being denied contact.The detained workers, many from Indigenous communities, are an integral part of the local community. Ambiance Apparel, which has a history of federal scrutiny, including money laundering investigations, provided employment for many, now faces scrutiny. The secondary_keyword, which occurred on Friday, has led to a desperate search for answers. As News Directory 3 reports, the heart of the matter is a community torn apart. Discover what’s next as families fight for the release of their loved ones and the examination continues.
Families Demand Due Process After ICE Raid at Los Angeles’ Ambiance Apparel
Updated June 10, 2025
Los Angeles – The families of more than 40 immigrant workers detained during an ICE raid at Ambiance Apparel, a fast-fashion warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, are pleading for help and due process. The ICE raid, which occurred Friday, has ignited civil unrest and led to the deployment of the National Guard in the city.
Saraí Ortiz, whose father Jose worked at Ambiance Apparel for 18 years, witnessed his arrest. Speaking at a protest Monday, ortiz said the reality of the situation was different than she had imagined. other families joined Ortiz, expressing concern over the lack of contact with their loved ones, all of whom are men. Lawyers have also reportedly been denied access to the detainees.
Many of the detained workers are from Indigenous communities in zacatecas, Mexico, and have built strong community ties in Los Angeles. Ambiance Apparel,despite past legal issues,provided steady employment for many immigrants,including Jose Ortiz.
Benjamin Gluck, a lawyer representing Ambiance Apparel, stated that the company complies with the law when hiring and only hires individuals believed to have the legal right to work in the United States. He added that Ambiance has reached out to the government for more information regarding the raid and will continue to support its employees.
Ambiance Apparel has been under federal scrutiny before. in 2014, authorities executed search warrants as part of a money laundering investigation, seizing nearly $36 million from the company and its owner, Sang Bum “Ed” Noh. In 2020, federal prosecutors charged Ambiance Apparel and Noh with undervaluing imported garments to avoid paying millions in tariffs.
Noh pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiracy and filing a false tax return. The company pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy, money laundering, and customs offenses. Noh was sentenced to a year in prison in 2021. Prosecutors alleged that Noh defrauded the United States of over $35 million.
Montserrat Arrazola, whose father Jorge was also detained, said her father is the familyS breadwinner. She spoke of the pain of separation and how her father is a caring family man. Carlos Gonzalez, whose brother Jose was taken, echoed the call for due process. He recounted a recent camping trip with his brother and his attempts to locate him after the raid in Los Angeles.
Gonzalez said he was unable to get information at the Metropolitan Detention Center and later learned his brother had been moved to Santa Ana. He hasn’t heard from him since.
“I want people to know that this was inhumane,” Gonzalez said. “They where just working.”
What’s next
Families are continuing to seek legal counsel and advocate for the release of their loved ones, while the investigation into Ambiance Apparel continues.