Public commenters criticize ICE raids and LAPD overtime at City Council meeting

During the general public comment period at the Sept. 5 Los Angeles City Council meeting, several speakers criticized recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the Los Angeles Police Department’s use of overtime funding.

Daniel Sosa told the council that ICE conducted raids across Los Angeles that morning and thanked council members Eunice Hernandez, Marqueece Harris‑Dawson and Hilda Solis Martinez for voting against a June authorization of $17 million in LAPD overtime. “This overtime money has been used to consistently violate the First Amendment rights of protesters to speak and assemble,” Sosa said, and he accused the department of using force against protesters and journalists.

Another public commenter identified only as Taylor said they are part of a 24‑7 protest outside a detention center and described arrests by DHS that included bragging by officers about prior operations. Taylor said they did not feel safe and urged action.

A speaker identified as Mr. Candido was warned twice for disruptive remarks and removed from the podium after repeated interruptions; the presiding officer cited council rules related to meeting disruptions.

Council staff and the presiding officer noted that items with prior committee public hearings had satisfied public comment at committee and that only general public comment was open during the council meeting. The record also shows the government operations committee report for an item (item 7) was filed and made available online as Council File 25‑1200‑S42 before the council took up the item later in the meeting.