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Residents urge transparency after reported ICE activity; council offers support, cites limited local authority

Inglewood City Council · February 4, 2026

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Summary

A resident said ICE detained a District 3 family member Jan. 13 and reported more than 50 incidents in Inglewood; council members expressed sympathy, underscored federal jurisdiction over enforcement and encouraged residents to seek city assistance.

A resident and daughter of immigrants told the Inglewood City Council on Feb. 3 that a relative in District 3 was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 13 and that she witnessed ICE detentions of construction workers nearby. The speaker, Maritza Medina Melgar, said more than 50 instances of ICE activity in Inglewood have been documented and asked the city for transparency and direct communication with residents.

"I'm not asking the city to change federal law," Medina Melgar said. "I'm asking for transparency. When city leadership remains silent, fear fills that silence." She identified Inglewood as nearly 50% Latino and said many residents are frightened or uncertain after the reported incidents.

Council members responded with expressions of sympathy and with practical clarifications about local authority. Councilman Alex Padilla said federal agencies do not typically notify local officials about operational plans and urged residents to reach out to city resources for help. Councilwoman Gloria Gray and Councilwoman Dionne Fogg likewise called for community support and civic engagement; Gray cited local programs and outreach and Fogg urged residents to vote.

The mayor noted the city’s ongoing efforts to assist families affected by enforcement actions and criticized coverage that he said emphasized the ICE incident out of context of a broader interview. Council members did not propose or adopt any local ordinance in response; they urged residents to use city resources and to contact staff for assistance. Medina Melgar's request for a formal city acknowledgment or additional transparency measures was recorded as a public comment for council consideration.