raid

The Long Beach-based activist runs the Stop ICE Raids Alert Network, which sends out text alerts with the locations of raids to more than half a million people nationwide.

He decided to organise a raid - but said his officers would not do so without the involvement of Mr Tarawallie, who often assists the police on such operations.

The raids had spooked remaining employees — and many had stopped showing up to work.

Federal agents, however, have stepped up immigration raids in Illinois, in what the Department of Homeland Security called Operation Midway Blitz.

“We have ICE raids, we have people picked up off the street and in their homes. Now they don’t even want us to educate ourselves?” she said.