Angelenos describe fear and disruption from recent ICE enforcement at City Council public comment

Councilmember Adrian Nazarian told the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday that recent federal immigration enforcement actions are harming neighborhoods and local institutions and urged continued attention to the issue. "This federal administration continues to threaten our communities, disrupting workplaces, schools, places of worship," Nazarian said at the start of public comment.

Residents and service providers described families hiding, people skipping medical appointments and workers unable to go to their jobs. "A lot of us have seen it. A lot of us have friends that are going through it," said Brenda Lopez, who identified herself as representing the Hispanic community in Council District 2. "We have a lot of mothers who are scared to go out to work. They're scared to walk their kids to school."

Cindy Vigil, another speaker from the same community, said raids had prompted some people to leave the city and others to avoid daily activities. "People I know personally — hardworking mothers and fathers — came over here with the hopes of a better future for their kids," Vigil said. "That is not what they have been given. Simply because of their skin color."

Marnie De La Cruz, who said she was speaking for those without a voice, described difficulty locating family members after enforcement actions and urged expedited local responses: "People are disappearing off of our streets, and we need to do something... We need to help everybody that's suffering in these situations just because their skin color is brown."

Nazarian, who convened the speakers and thanked them for appearing, said council offices and staff have been responding directly to reports from service centers and that council members are supporting affected families. He described council outreach to centers serving unhoused residents and said the council will continue documenting incidents and assisting callers who report raids at service facilities.

The council did not take a formal vote or adopt new policy at Tuesday's meeting on this matter. Members repeatedly framed the testimony as part of ongoing oversight and constituent outreach. Council staff said they would continue to provide information and resources and urged speakers to share written documentation of incidents for follow-up.

Council President and other members thanked speakers for testifying and said they would continue to coordinate with the affected council offices and service providers to monitor community impacts.

Ending: Public speakers asked the council to keep documenting incidents and to continue outreach to affected families and service sites. Council offices said they will keep a record of reports and offered to accept written materials for follow-up.