Los Angeles Council Responds to ICE Raid During Nisei Week in Little Tokyo

In a powerful display of community resilience and outrage, the Los Angeles City Council meeting on August 15, 2025, spotlighted the stark contrast between celebration and fear in the city. Council members opened the session by reflecting on the recent grand opening of the Skid Row Care Campus, a beacon of hope for many. However, just blocks away, a troubling incident unfolded that overshadowed the day’s festivities.

During the beloved Nisei Week, a time of cultural celebration for Japanese Americans, federal ICE agents conducted an unannounced raid outside the Japanese American National Museum. This action, described as a “political stunt,” involved the detention of a worker delivering produce, raising alarms about the safety of immigrant communities in Los Angeles. Council members and community leaders condemned the raid, highlighting its location's historical significance as a former internment site for Japanese Americans during World War II.

June Hibino, a representative from the Nikkei Progressives, voiced the community's distress, calling for stronger protections for immigrants and urging the council to enforce the city’s sanctuary laws. “Little Tokyo is our cultural and historic center,” she stated, emphasizing the need for concrete measures to safeguard residents from federal enforcement actions that instill fear and trauma.

Kimi Manu, another community member, recounted the chaos of the raid, describing the intimidating presence of armed agents and the panic it caused among local businesses and residents. “It was a terrifying experience,” she said, urging the council to take action against such aggressive tactics.

Former city administrative officer Bill Fujioka also spoke passionately about the implications of the raid, drawing parallels between current events and the injustices faced by Japanese Americans in the past. He called on city leaders to stand firm against these federal actions, reinforcing the museum's commitment to social justice and immigrant rights.

The meeting underscored a critical moment for Los Angeles, as community leaders rallied for action to protect vulnerable populations amid rising tensions surrounding immigration enforcement. As the city grapples with these challenges, the voices of those advocating for justice and dignity remain resolute, demanding accountability and change from their elected officials.