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Residents urge eviction moratorium as council demands federal records on ICE activity; Cudahy directs FOIA request
Summary
After extensive public comment calling for a 60‑day eviction moratorium and a local state of emergency over ICE raids, the Cudahy City Council voted Aug. 19 to urge federal representatives to act and directed staff to submit Freedom of Information Act requests to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for records on enforcement activity.
Hundreds of residents and community organizations urged Cudahy elected officials Aug. 19 to declare a state of emergency and impose a 60‑day eviction moratorium in response to a wave of immigration enforcement activities, and the council responded by unanimously approving a resolution urging federal representatives to act and directing staff to file Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Public testimony was extensive and centered on fear of raids, family separations and requests for tenant protections. Sandra Herrera told the council the community is “being attacked, especially those in the workforce, the tenants, the recent ICE raids,” and urged a 60‑day memorandum to prevent evictions. Mateo, a community organizer with East Yard, said, “We are here to ask all to pass a 60 day eviction moratorium,” and described the risk of displacement if action is delayed.
Several speakers described the legal and practical tools they want the city to pursue. Jasmine Gonzalez, community stability organizer with East Yard (part of the Statehouse LA program), described the “right to counsel” context and told the council those tools “are just another tool to help folks stay in their homes.” Veronica Lopez, representing Communities for a Better Environment, urged the council to declare a state of emergency and warned of mental health and schooling impacts on children.
Council members cited the volume and tone of public testimony when they considered a staff recommendation and a council draft resolution. Councilmember Fuentes said the FOIA requests are intended to clarify local impacts and noted an earlier specific case the council was still investigating: two women allegedly taken by individuals claiming to be ICE agents and transported to another city. The resolution directs staff to request ICE records for the city to establish an accurate account of enforcement activity affecting Cudahy residents and to ask federal representatives to advocate for residents’ due process and transparency.
Action: The council voted to adopt the resolution urging federal representatives to advocate for residents and directing staff to submit FOIA requests to ICE. The motion passed by voice vote without recorded dissents.
What it does and next steps: The FOIA requests are administrative; they do not change federal enforcement policy. The resolution asks members of Congress to press for transparency, and the city attorney and staff will pursue the FOIA submissions. Councilmembers said they will continue to explore tenant protections and short‑term assistance options while the records request is processed.
