Latest ICE raids in Southern California target Pasadena area
FILE PHOTO
LOS ANGELES – The latest federal immigration raids in the Southland have reportedly targeted the Pasadena area, with Rep. Judy Chu reporting Wednesday of “multiple alarming ICE operations” in her congressional district, “including over the weekend and again this morning.”
The Pasadena Democrat’s office issued a statement saying Chu was planning a Wednesday afternoon visit to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, “where it has been reported that residents of Pasadena who were swept up in recent ICE raids” are being held.
Meanwhile, Lisa Derderian, a spokeswoman for the city of Pasadena, told City News Service on Wednesday, “We are aware of several locations of enforcement activity in Pasadena this morning. We’re reviewing social media posts, photos and video to see if we can get further clarification of who they are.”
Derderian’s comments came after Metro closed the Memorial Park Station “due to police activity” on Wednesday morning. The station later reopened.
According to Chu’s statement, “newly surfaced footage shows ICE agents appearing to commit serious violations of the law: aiming weapons at innocent civilians, driving recklessly through residential streets, and failing to show warrants or identify themselves.”
She said that, during her visit to the Metropolitan Detention Center, she will “demand accountability and transparency, and seek answers regarding her constituents currently being detained, the circumstances of their apprehension, and whether they are being granted due process.”
Officials from the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Derderian stressed that “neither the City of Pasadena or the Pasadena Police Department participate in the enforcement of federal civilimmigration laws, nor do we ask about an individuals immigration status when responding to calls for service or when delivering City services.”
“Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, not state or local governments,” she added. “Our focus and priority will remain on enforcing state and local laws to ensure the safety and well-being of our diverse community.
The reported actions in Pasadena followed raids in Pico Rivera on Tuesday — prompting a protest that included about 100 people later that evening.
ICE agents conducted raids at multiple sites in the city, including a Food 4 Less on Whittier Boulevard and a Lowes Home Improvement store in the 8600 block of Washington Boulevard.
It was not clear how many people were detained, but multiple media reports indicated that a man identified by relatives as 20-year-old Adrian Andrew Martinez was wrestled to the ground and arrested by federal agents for intervening in the questioning of another man.
“The City of Pico Rivera is aware and can confirm recent reports on immigration control operations conducted by the United States Immigration and Customs Control Service (ICE) within our city. These actions have, understandably, generated worry, fear and anxiety among many of our residents,” the city posted on its social media accounts Tuesday.
“We want to be clear: The City of Pico Rivera and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are not involved, cooperating with, or supporting, in any way, federal immigration control operations. Our city maintains its steadfast commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their migrant status. Each person has the right to due process as guaranteed by the Constitution,” the statement continued.
“We are deeply concerned about the tone and nature of these recent actions. Reports of aggressive tactics, arrests without warrants and operatives that appear to target specific communities raise serious doubts about the proportionality, justice and legality of the process.”
The protest lasted for hours after news of the raids, with marchers traveling from City Hall to the corner of Rosmead and Washington boulevards.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies monitored the demonstration, but no arrests were reported.
Meanwhile, things appeared calm in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night, the first night after Mayor Karen Bass lifted a curfew that had been in effect since last week in a one-square-mile area of the city.
The curfew was prompted by the widespread property damage and violence that accompanied the first several days of protests after the federal raids began in the Los Angeles area on June 6.
Trump administration officials have said that the immigration enforcement operations would continue in the Southland, despite the protests and the pleas of local Democrats. (CNS)
