It began with co-ordinated raids on locations throughout Los Angeles on Friday.

Immigration officials, backed by heavily armed FBI officers with assault weapons and body armour, stormed a clothing factory and at least two other locations in Latino areas of the city, trying to make good on orders to ramp-up the pace of deportations.

Crowds gathered outside Ambiance Apparel in the city’s Fashion District within minutes.

“You do not have to sign anything,” a protester shouted through a megaphone as officers scoped the area armed with search warrants to investigate “fictitious employee documents”.

Videos posted online captured what happened next.

One masked protester was filmed placing himself in front of an SUV full of detainees in an attempt to thwart the arrests as officers fired tear gas canisters into crowds to disperse the protesters.