The Garden Grove City Council meeting held on July 8, 2025, focused heavily on community concerns regarding the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the city. Residents expressed fears about the lack of transparency and accountability surrounding ICE operations, urging the council to take action to protect vulnerable community members.

Several speakers, including lifelong resident Rachel Key, called for the verification of ICE agents' identities when they operate in Garden Grove. Key highlighted the confusion and fear among residents, questioning how federal agents could operate without disclosing their affiliations or identification. She urged the council to adopt a resolution similar to one passed in Huntington Park, which mandates that federal agents follow proper identification protocols.

Community members also criticized the city’s lack of support for families affected by ICE activities. Key noted that while schools have stepped up to provide aid, the responsibility should not fall solely on educators and students. She urged the council to establish community aid hubs, similar to those in neighboring cities like Santa Ana and Anaheim, to better support impacted families.

Karina Gueron, another resident, expressed her distress over the presence of ICE in the community, particularly following recent raids. She questioned what measures the city would take to prevent such actions and ensure public safety. Courtney Cook, a member of the OCGRAP response network, echoed these sentiments, sharing alarming incidents of ICE activity in the area and calling for proactive measures from the council.

The meeting underscored a growing demand for transparency regarding the collaboration between the Garden Grove Police Department and ICE, with residents feeling betrayed by a lack of communication about ICE's actions. The council was urged to take immediate steps to address these concerns and protect the rights and safety of all residents.

As the meeting concluded, the urgency for the city to respond to these issues was clear, with community members looking for concrete actions from their elected officials to foster a safer and more transparent environment.