Resident urges city action after reported ICE entries in Laguna Woods Village; councilor says gate-ambassador training under consideration

Laguna Woods — A resident told the City Council she has observed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in and around Laguna Woods Village and urged the city to issue a statement and direct staff to act to protect residents. The council took the comment under advisement and discussed nonbinding next steps.

At the public-comment period, Vicky Johnson described seeing ICE agents on an app she uses and said gate guards at Laguna Woods Village reported they had no instructions for responding to ICE encounters. “We can’t expect a senior working at the gates to fend off an aggressive ICE agent for coming into the village,” she said. Johnson asked the council “to issue a statement so that residents and businesses know where the Laguna city stands on [ICE entries].”

Council member Connors responded during the meeting, saying she shared the concern and that residents live on private property where ICE ordinarily needs a judicial warrant to enter. Connors said she had met with Chief Nunez (city security) and understood he planned to discuss training for gate ambassadors with the GRF security committee, but that the training did not appear completed. She said the council would take Johnson’s request under advisement and see what could be done to protect residents.

At the meeting several speakers referenced a prior discussion at a recent meeting with Captain Ackerman of the sheriff’s office, who had explained the risk of unmarked enforcement vehicles and the potential for law-enforcement confusion. City staff did not announce any formal policy change; under state law the council may receive public comment and refer items to staff for future study. No formal direction, motion or ordinance was made at the meeting.