Community leaders, museum staff and immigrant-rights organizers told the Los Angeles City Council on Aug. 15 that a recent immigration enforcement operation near Little Tokyo involved masked agents who detained a person outside a cultural institution and left members of the neighborhood shaken.

Speakers said the incident occurred during a public commemoration and accused federal immigration agents of aggressive behavior. At the meeting, representatives of Nikkei Progress (Nikkei Progresos in the transcript) and staff from a museum of Japanese American history described rapid-response outreach and asked the council for stronger local protections for immigrants.

"No tenían orden de haber esto ni podían identificar los cargos, pero persiguieron a la primera persona que habían visto," said a representative speaking for Nikkei Progresos (public comment, 2644.255–2693.735). The same speaker urged the council to “promulguen unas medidas para poder fortalecer nuestras leyes y legislaciones” to protect immigrant families (2911.935–2958.61).

Kimi Maru, identified in the record as a member of Nikkei Progresos, said she was present during the incident and described organizers’ work to warn businesses and residents when masked agents appeared: "De inmediato había gente que estaba advirtiendo a las personas ... estaban usando silbatos y alertando a la gente para que tengan cuidados y que cierren sus tiendas" (3015.315–3064.085).

A former administrator with the museum of Japanese American history, identified in the transcript as Belfi Yoga, told the council the arrests occurred "en el exacto sitio donde los individuos de herencia japonesa les obligaron a subir el autobús para ir a un campamento de concentración," and said the location made the incident especially painful for the community (3196.18–3227.045). "Cuando sucedieron los arrestos, nos chocó profundamente," the speaker added (3196.18–3227.045).

Speakers linked the incident to broader fears among immigrant communities and asked the council to act. A Nikkei Progresos representative noted the council's prior action: "El pasado noviembre el consejo municipal votaron de manera unánime para que Los Ángeles sea una ciudad de santuarios," and asked what additional steps the city could take to protect residents (2857.175–2911.02).

Councilmember statements recorded in the meeting thanked the speakers and acknowledged the emotional effect on the neighborhood. City staff and community groups were urged to continue documenting incidents and to build a public record; one speaker provided phone numbers and asked residents to report future encounters with immigration agents (3448.525–3478.445).

This discussion took place during the meeting’s public comment period; no formal council action or vote on new legislation was recorded in the transcript excerpt related to these remarks.

Members of the public who spoke about the operation included representatives of Nikkei Progresos and museum staff; several speakers asked for stronger local protections, faster city response and continued documentation of enforcement actions.

Looking ahead, speakers asked the council to consider measures to reduce the risk of future operations interrupting cultural events and to coordinate with community organizations on rapid-response outreach and notice.