Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Immigration Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Hawaiian Gardens council over ICE activity; city says it lacked prior notice
Summary
A community member accused city leaders of slow and insufficient communication after federal immigration enforcement activity in Hawaiian Gardens; city officials said they had no advance notice, circulated guidance prepared with the city attorney and posted social media updates as they were able.
A vocal public comment and a series of council remarks on Sept. 24 centered on reports that federal immigration enforcement officers were operating in Hawaiian Gardens earlier in the day.
Community member Bianca Villegas told the council she was “disgusted” by what she called the city’s slow and insufficient response to the incident, saying the city waited more than an hour to post a statement on Instagram and later posted a routine program message that gave the impression officials were brushing off the event. "Your lack of transparency is appalling," Villegas said, adding that she had been promised a follow‑up call from the mayor’s office and had not received it.
City Manager Ernesto Marquez and other officials told the council they had not been notified in advance of the federal enforcement action. Marquez said a memorandum prepared with the city attorney’s office was circulated earlier in the day and that once city staff were notified they issued a release within minutes. He also said staff notified the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after learning of the presence of federal agents and that the sheriff’s office reported it had not been aware of the operation.
Mayor De Pala said the city recognizes the fear the event created for immigrant families and emphasized the city’s goal to connect residents with resources. The mayor announced the city was communicating with county and congressional offices: he said a representative from the office of Congressmember (name in transcript) was monitoring reports and that staff had been in contact with the field office of U.S. Representative Derek Tran's office for oversight assistance; the meeting transcript also records the mayor saying a representative for Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn had offered support.
Council members suggested the matter be agendized for a future meeting to discuss what tools the city and community could use to assist residents during enforcement actions — for example, transportation for students, information hotlines, or coordination with the school district — but no formal direction or policy change was adopted during the meeting.
City staff apologized for the way social media posts were perceived and encouraged residents to use city resources, including a red card (a city resource referenced at the meeting) and to report concerns so officials can respond quickly. No changes to city practice or new city programs were approved at the Sept. 24 meeting.
