Dozens of residents demand Whittier bar ICE from using city property after June enforcement actions

Dozens of residents filled the Whittier Community Center on Tuesday evening to press the Whittier City Council to block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from using city property after enforcement actions in the city earlier this month, saying officers used the public library parking lot and other sites to stage arrests.

The crowd — more than 40 people were counted by staff — spent the public-comment portion of the meeting describing fear in the community, calling for a formal sanctuary-city declaration and for the council to prohibit ICE from staging operations on city-owned property. City Manager Tom McNamara told the meeting staff had not been notified in advance of the federal actions.

Why it matters: Speakers said the raids disrupted daily life, scared children and customers away from businesses and used public facilities that families rely on. They urged immediate council action to protect residents’ access to libraries, parks and city services and to provide transparency about any coordination between federal agents and local departments.

Residents delivered emotional first-person accounts and specific policy requests. Veronica Gonzales, who identified herself as an educator and Whittier resident, said: “I urge you to officially declare Whittier a sanctuary city, and beyond that, provide full transparency about the city's policy on ICE, presence, and clarity. The Whittier Police Department’s role: prohibit ICE from using city facilities for enforcement coordination.” Rolanda Wirier, who identified herself as an organizer, asked the council to “add an agenda item to terminate all contracts with ICE, and to proclaim protection for all residents of Whittier.”

Multiple speakers said enforcement actions took place on June 9 and that public facilities, including the library parking lot and retail parking areas, were used as meeting points. A videographer who recorded events at the library told the council he approached ICE vehicles and called for elected officials to make public statements against the raids, saying: “How much more empowered would we feel if you guys were to say something? If at the library they were to be there and be like, ‘You know what? My city's against this.’”

City staff response: City Manager Tom McNamara addressed the council near the end of the public-comment period and said staff learned of the federal activity only after it began. “You can be assured that we were not notified by ICE. It was a humongous surprise for me to come to work yesterday morning … This was not known in advance by us. We have no control over it,” McNamara said. He added the city has no contract with ICE, that the Whittier Police Department “does not ask anything about immigration status,” and that staff will publish information on city social channels when they have it.

Requests and demands: Speakers asked for a range of policies, including (1) a city ordinance barring ICE from staging operations on city-owned property, (2) a formal sanctuary-city resolution, (3) full disclosure of any past coordination between ICE and city staff or contractors, and (4) funding for community groups that help locate detained residents and provide legal and family support. Jafet Diego, a longtime resident, asked the council to “pass a formal ordinance that bars ICE from using city property, and clearly reaffirms that Whittier will not coordinate or assist in their operations.”

Council reaction and next steps: Council members did not take any formal action or vote on the demands during the meeting. McNamara said staff will continue to post updates on social media and invited community members to contact the city directly. Several speakers and organizers told the council they will return at future meetings until the council adopts concrete protections for residents.

Community context: Multiple speakers described fear in workplaces, libraries and schools and reported local businesses saw fewer customers following the raids. Several educators, students and longtime residents recounted personal experiences of anxiety and disruption; one educator described turning away a patient who feared leaving home because of enforcement activity. Speakers repeatedly urged council members with Hispanic surnames to act, and several said they would use upcoming elections to hold officials accountable.

What the council record shows: No ordinance or resolution restricting ICE operations on city property was proposed or voted on at Tuesday’s meeting. Staff reiterated there is currently no city contract with ICE and said the Whittier Police Department’s official policy is not to inquire about immigration status. The council scheduled its next regular meeting and did not announce a specific follow-up item on ICE or immigration enforcement.

Ending: Speakers said they would continue to press the council until the city enacts policies they consider protective. City staff committed to posting updates as they become available and to meeting with community organizers who requested additional information.