The Monrovia City Council held its regular meeting on September 16, 2025, where several significant topics were discussed, particularly concerning community safety and the recent tragic death of a local day laborer.

The meeting commenced with a warm welcome to a new representative, followed by a motion to approve the consent calendar, which included routine items CC 1 through CC 8. The council moved swiftly through these items, approving them without objection.

Public input was a major focus of the evening, with ten speakers addressing the council on issues not listed on the agenda. The first speaker, Anna from the Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley, called for a permanent memorial for Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, who was killed during an immigration raid at Home Depot last month. She emphasized the need for transparency regarding the investigation into his death and expressed the IRC's willingness to collaborate with the city.

Following Anna, community organizer Ally Seha spoke passionately about ongoing efforts to support day laborers and protect them from violent raids. She urged the council to respond to their requests for an independent investigation into Montoya's death and to support the establishment of a permanent memorial.

Alicia Pardo, a local resident, echoed these sentiments, sharing her personal connection to the community and her desire to advocate for the rights of immigrants. Sherry Lochner, another speaker, criticized the actions of ICE and called for accountability regarding Montoya's death, demanding answers from the council about the investigation and the use of surveillance data.

The speakers collectively highlighted the community's grief and anger over Montoya's death, urging the council to take action in support of day laborers and to ensure that such tragedies do not recur. They called for a memorial to honor Montoya's life and to serve as a reminder of the impact of immigration enforcement on local communities.

The meeting concluded without immediate resolutions to the concerns raised, but the council acknowledged the importance of the issues presented and the need for further discussion in future meetings. The community's call for justice and remembrance for Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez remains a pressing matter for the city council as they move forward.