Residents and nonprofit leaders used the public‑comment period to urge the Santa Paula City Council to take immediate action after recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at a community food distribution site.

Speakers described fear among farmworkers, mixed‑status families and others and asked the council to: sign on to a federal ACLU lawsuit challenging recent ICE operations; hold a special meeting; form an ad hoc committee to study local policy options; and allocate emergency funds for affected families.

Fabiola (Avila) Gomez, a Santa Paula resident, told the council: “ICE raids have increased tremendously this year, mainly targeting farm workers, people of color,” and said residents are afraid to leave home. Several speakers said ICE appeared at a food distribution at El Centro del Pueblo (reported during public comment), which led organizers and clients to fear future use of social services.

Multiple commenters asked the council to join the ACLU Foundation of Southern California’s permissive joinder to a federal complaint. City Attorney Monica Castillo explained the procedural options: the city could seek permissive joinder to a federal case or could first go into closed session to discuss whether to initiate litigation; the closed‑session procedure would trigger public notifications and schedule a special meeting if council members decided action was warranted.

Speakers also urged other immediate steps: continuing “know your rights” outreach programs, convening public forums for affected residents, creating an accessible council ad hoc like those established in Carpinteria and Goleta, and allocating emergency assistance for rent, food and utilities. Several speakers referenced actions taken by neighboring cities, saying those provided models to consider.

Why it matters: commenters said ICE activity is disrupting civic participation and access to basic services in a community where people of Latino descent account for a large share of the population; callers asked the city to provide legal and logistical support to residents, and to consider formal legal steps in coordination with other jurisdictions.

What’s next: Council members and staff noted the council’s items‑for‑future‑agenda procedures and the short timeline for time‑sensitive items: a council member may place a time‑sensitive item on the next agenda by motion and second during the “future agenda” segment. Council did not immediately adopt a resolution or a joinder request; staff said they will advise council on options and timing.