Stage Talks with Bellingcat "Monitoring US Immigration Raids" with Bellingcat, Evident and CalMatters
Jul 18, 2025
Kolina Koltai, a Bellingcat researcher with ties to Los Angeles, explores the nuances of immigration raids, specifically how researchers can leverage bystander videos for accountability. Sergio Olmos from CalMatters highlights alarming patterns of surprise raids on farmworkers in Bakersfield, while Kevin Clancy of Evident Media discusses innovative methods for documenting these practices. The conversation dives into the legal struggles, the role of social media in exposing unconstitutional actions, and the ethical challenges faced by enforcement personnel. Transparency and community involvement are key themes.
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Unauthorized Border Raids in Bakersfield
- Kolina Koltai shares that Border Patrol operated far beyond their jurisdiction more than 300 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border in Bakersfield.
- They arrested mostly non-criminal agricultural workers in unauthorized raids confirmed by social media videos and local interviews.
Nature of LA Immigration Raids
- Indiscriminate, warrantless immigration raids targeted places like Home Depots and car washes repeatedly.
- Agents often wore masks, used unmarked vehicles, and showed overwhelming force, blurring lines between law enforcement and militarization.
Bystander Videos Outpace Press Coverage
- Sergio Olmos observed that most footage of immigration raids came from bystanders, not press photographers.
- The abundance of eyewitness videos was crucial for mapping and understanding the scale of raids in Los Angeles.