Simi Valley residents clash over ICE raids; mayor, council say city cannot conduct federal immigration enforcement

Dozens of residents filled Simi Valley's council chambers on July 21 to press the city to respond to recent federal immigration enforcement activity and to demand clearer local protections for undocumented people.

Mayor Keith Kavanaugh opened the meeting by telling the audience that "immigration falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the federal government, not cities, counties, or states," and that "the City of Simi Valley and the Simi Valley Police Department cannot participate in federal . . . immigration enforcement activities." He urged residents to raise federal concerns with their congressional delegation and to use local resources such as 2-1-1 and Interface services for legal or counseling referrals.

Why it matters: public fear and repeated accounts of masked agents detaining people prompted repeated calls for the council and police to spell out what officers will and will not do when federal agents operate locally. Speakers on both sides of the issue said they feared for public safety and community trust, and several residents asked the council to take explicit, visible steps to reassure immigrant families.

The meeting included a wide range of public testimony. Aubrey Lancaster, a Simi Valley resident and organizer, told the council, "I am calling on the city council to direct staff to draft a resolution modeled after Ventura's CARE policy," referencing a policy Ventura adopted in June that the speaker said limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Joseph Alfano, a volunteer with VC Defensa, urged residents to join local rapid-response teams and gave hotline numbers for on-the-ground assistance. Several other speakers described recent local encounters with masked agents, said they had been unable to get clear help from police, and asked the city to publish clear guidance and multilingual resources.

Council members stopped short of adopting new policy at the meeting. Councilmember John Ayala said he would ask staff to make policing policy clearer and to post immigrant safety resources on the city's website; he also said he would seek regular staff reports so the council can monitor whether protocols are being followed. Mayor Kavanaugh and other members repeatedly emphasized the city's limited legal authority over federal enforcement while saying the council wants to protect public trust and residents' ability to report crimes.

Voices at the meeting: Supporters of federal enforcement also addressed the council. Several speakers said they wanted local officials to defend immigration law and public order. Others urged the city to publicly condemn aggressive enforcement tactics and to provide evidence-gathering and legal support for people detained by masked agents. The session included calls for a City-led listing of legal resources, multilingual outreach materials, and a public statement from police leadership clarifying how officers will respond to encounters with federal agents.

What officials said they would do: No formal action or vote on city policy occurred at the meeting. City staff and some council members said they would review existing police directives and consider posting clear, multilingual information on the city website about residents' rights and available local assistance; Councilmember Ayala asked for a standing update to the council if enforcement questions continue to arise.

Community context and next steps: Residents provided specific local contact information they said would help neighbors rapidly: VC Defensa's rapid-response hotline, (805) 296-1119, and the 805 Immigrant Coalition hotline, (805) 870-8855. Several speakers asked the council to consider drafting a local resolution similar to Ventura's CARE policy; council members asked staff to return with information but said any policy that restricts cooperation with federal agencies must be carefully reviewed for legal limits.

The council did not schedule a vote or formal policy at the meeting. Residents and organizing groups said they will continue to press the issue in future meetings and through direct outreach to council members and federal representatives.

Ending note: Mayor Kavanaugh closed the public-comment portion by reminding speakers to keep decorum and by reiterating city staff resources; the council signaled it would provide clarifying materials and consider whether a formal local policy or public statement is feasible under federal law.