Penske Truck Rental released a statement Wednesday condemning the Department of Homeland Security for using its truck in an immigration raid.
On Wednesday morning, DHS agents traveled to a Home Depot in the McArthur Park area of Los Angeles. The purpose of the visit, according to Fox News reporter Matt Finn, was to conduct “early morning immigration enforcement.”
“The area was filled with migrants who scattered,” Finn added. “DHS says MS 13 has a chokehold on this area, which is one reason they’re carrying out the highly optic immigration raids. 16 taken into custody.”
In the video, DHS agents wearing vests can be seen packed into the back of a rental truck. As soon as one of the agents opened the truck, the rest of them poured out, and a chaotic scene outside quickly unfolded. Several of the agents immediately ran after the fleeing migrants.
In a statement obtained by Los Angeles Times reporter Brittny Mejia, Penske made it clear that the company did not authorize the use of its trucks for the operation:
Penske Truck Rental is aware of recent reports and videos regarding a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation in Los Angeles. Penske strictly prohibits the transportation of people in the cargo area of its vehicles under any circumstances. The company was not made aware that its trucks would be used in today’s operation and did not authorize this. Penske will reach out to DHS and reinforce its policy to avoid improper use of its vehicles in the future.
