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Residents urge Monrovia to declare sanctuary city and seek report on detainee's death
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Summary
Speakers asked the council to seek investigative records and adopt a sanctuary-city ordinance after deaths in ICE custody; the city attorney's office filed a Public Records Act request seeking the investigative report on Carlos Roberto Montoya Valdez, and staff said they will continue outreach to the attorney general's office.
Multiple residents pressed the Monrovia City Council on April 21 to act after deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Sherry Lochner urged the council to pursue an investigation into the death of Carlos Roberto Montoya Valdez, adopt an ordinance declaring Monrovia a sanctuary city, and create a permanent memorial; she cited a tally of deaths in ICE custody (she said the number had risen from 64 to 66).
Martha Mack read a list of names she said belonged to people who died while detained and asked the council to remember them. "Let us remember their names together," she said.
City Manager Dylan Feek told the council the city attorney's office had filed a Public Records Act request seeking the investigative report into Montoya Valdez's death; he cautioned the document may be heavily redacted or withheld but said the city would continue outreach, including to contacts at the attorney general's office. "We anticipate that it will either not be released or it will be heavily redacted," Feek said, but added the city is pursuing every available avenue.
Council did not vote on any ordinance at the meeting. Speakers said they would continue attending council meetings and urged officials to be proactive. The council accepted the public comments and staff said they would continue attempts to obtain information through formal records requests and intergovernmental channels.
