From Congress to the local City Council, elected officials have been speaking out against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles and President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and the U.S. Marines to quell protesters.
In an address delivered on Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned Trump’s unlawful militarization of LA and warned that the president’s actions mark a dangerous inflection point for the nation.
“What we’re witnessing is not law enforcement – it’s authoritarianism,” said Newsom. “What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty. Your silence. To be complicit in this moment. Do not give in to him.”
Newsom recounted recent federal raids in Latino neighborhoods, the unlawful commandeering of 4,000 California National Guard members and the deployment of over 700 active-duty Marines to the streets of an American city – all done without consultation with state or local officials.
“Trump is pulling a military dragnet across Los Angeles,” Newsom said. “It’s weakness masquerading as strength.”
Following several raids, which began on Friday, June 6, Sen. Alex Padilla released a statement accusing them of stoking fear and chaos throughout the region.
“These indiscriminate raids prove once again that the Trump administration cares about nothing but instilling harm and fear in our communities to drive immigrants into the shadows,” he wrote. “This fearmongering is not going to change the fact that immigrants are valued members of our communities who contribute to our society and economy, and my office will demand accountability for today’s actions.”
Padilla has voiced his opinions widely with multiple media outlets. During a televised interview on MSNBC, he criticized the Trump administration for not targeting criminals as they claim to be doing, but rather “going after people in the workplace, in houses of worship, children in schools.”
Padilla, who is the child of working-class immigrants who he said came to this country “in pursuit of the American Dream,” noted that California is not only the most populous and diverse state in the nation, but is also fueled by immigrant labor.
“[California is] the fourth-largest economy in the world, not despite our immigrant population, but because of our immigrant population, who contribute so much as [a] workforce, as consumers, as entrepreneurs,” said Padilla. “Our nation is better than this. Look to California as a way forward.”
Congresswoman Luz Rivas released a statement on Saturday, after she and other members of Congress were refused entry to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown LA, where detainees are being held. The officials were attempting to perform their right to an oversight visit, following reports of immigrants being held with limited legal access and restricted access to food, water and medicine.
“The reports of what is happening inside the Roybal Federal Building is a complete violation of our laws and a stain on our values as a country,” said Rivas.
“The Trump administration blocked my colleagues and me from conducting our congressional oversight duties into the reported abuses and neglect that is taking place at this facility,” she continued. “Our job as members of Congress is to shine a light on their actions toward immigrant families – and we will not be deterred. We will continue to use our power to protect our most vulnerable from the inhumane actions of this administration.”
Two days later, Rivas sent a letter to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons demanding answers and disciplinary action from ICE for its misconduct.
“Not only did your personnel break the law, your personnel also broke ICE’s own Employee Code of Conduct, which has caused the public and lawmakers to question your ability to lead, as well as the integrity, judgment and reliability of your personnel,” wrote Rivas.
“Everyone in this country has a basic set of rights, which include a right to an attorney, due process and being treated humanely and with dignity,” she added. “Unfortunately, none of this seemed to be happening.”
On Monday, June 9, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar released a statement standing with, and offering resources for, the immigrant communities in LA.
“The ICE raids that began in Los Angeles last week, and what has been happening since January across the country, is not only unjust, but also cruel,” wrote Menjivar. “Executing military-style operations on immigrants at work, because they are an easy target to meet an arbitrary quota, is a breach of trust between government and our communities.”
Menjivar and State Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez joined the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California on Friday to demand the release of the organization’s president, David Huerta, after he was detained by federal agents for protesting an immigration raid.
“I am so proud of us, Los Angeles. Today we showed up – community members, labor allies, and local leaders came together to demand the release of [SEIU] President David Huerta and all those unjustly separated from their families,” wrote Rodriguez on social media after Huerta was released on bail Monday.
Rodriguez also marched alongside the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and protesters outside the federal detention facility to demand the release of those detained by immigration enforcement.
LA Mayor Karen Bass said she was deeply angered by what has occurred in the city.
“These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city,” she wrote in a statement on Friday. “We will not stand for this.
“When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you deploy troops to our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe – you’re trying to cause fear and panic,” Bass further emphasised during a press conference on Tuesday. “These raids must stop.”
LA Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath also released a statement on Friday condemning the targeting of immigrant communities.
“These actions are designed to instill fear in communities of color – but we will not be intimidated, and we will not be silent,” said Horvath. “We must remain vigilant. We must protect one another. And above all, we will stand together.”
Northeast San Fernando Valley LA City Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Imelda Padilla issued statements on social media.
“Every person, regardless of immigration status, deserves humane and respectful treatment – not intimidation or fear,” wrote Imelda Padilla. “As a community of immigrants and migrants, we are committed to standing by our neighbors and upholding their dignity and security. We will not stand down in the face of federal efforts aimed at dismantling our communities.”
“The terrorizing of communities in Southern California by federal agents has intentionally inflicted fear amongst our immigrant communities,” wrote Monica Rodriguez. “In light of reports that LAPD may have been involved in these operations, I will be calling on the department to report to the City Council on what led to their response. Angelenos deserve to know the facts.”
She further called for protesters to remain peaceful, as unruly behavior, she said, “gives justification for unnecessary crackdowns and puts our communities at greater risk.”
During the City of San Fernando’s Pride Flag raising ceremony on Saturday, Vice Mayor Mary Solorio took a moment to address and acknowledge the terror sweeping immigrant communities in LA.
“ICE is taking advantage of our communities and arresting people who are citizens, people who are just peacefully protesting,” said Solorio. “We have to stand hand in hand with our immigrant community, as well as with our LGBTQ community, because hate has no place here in San Fernando, nor does it have any place here in California and Los Angeles.”