I’ve watched hundreds of ICE raid videos. What the immigration algorithm tells us about L.A. (latimes.com)

📺 Overview & Context

Shelby Grad, Deputy Managing Editor at the LA Times, explores a wave of ICE raids across Southern California through the lens of videos circulating on social media.

🎯 Key Themes

• Immigrant vulnerability in focus – Striking footage captures emotional moments, like an elderly man pulled from his car in West L.A., surrounded by bystanders offering comfort.
• Algorithmic media insight – An “immigration algorithm” analyzing dozens of videos finds an unexpected shift: scenes show solidarity, not isolation, highlighting community support during raids.

🔍 Historical Echo & Contrast

• Shelby reflects on The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle—satirical fiction depicting immigrant repression in the 1990s—then contrasts that to 2025’s reality: more witnessing, more empathy in digital spaces.

🎓 Citation

Grad, S. (2025, July 5). I’ve watched hundreds of ICE raid videos. What the immigration algorithm tells us about L.A. Essential California, Los Angeles Times. Summary generated by ChatGPT (GPT‑4). Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025‑07‑05/ive‑watched‑hundreds‑ice‑raid‑videos‑what‑the‑immigration‑algorithm‑tells‑us‑about‑l‑a