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Residents press Compton leaders for answers after ICE activity; city, sheriff say they received no advance notice
Summary
Public commenters described ICE enforcement in Compton shopping corridors and asked why the city had not issued alerts. City Manager Hopkins and a county sheriff captain said local governments typically receive no pre-notification; the mayor provided rapid-response resources and urged solidarity.
A large number of residents used the Jan. 27 public-comment period to describe recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in commercial corridors and to demand immediate information and protections from city leaders.
"People are being picked up publicly creating fear, trauma and disturbance in our neighborhood and local economic," said Maria Variel, who identified herself as president of the Compton Latino Chamber of Commerce, and demanded answers about coordination between ICE and the city. Patricia Gonzalez, the chamber’s vice president, said residents felt unsafe and called on the city to publish guidance similar to neighboring cities’ public-safety alerts.
Kenya Gil, identified as a resident and business owner, said she watched the events and could find no city social-media notices about the day’s activity. "There's people literally getting kidnapped," she said, urging the council to be visible and responsive.
City Manager Matt Hopkins said he went to reported sites after receiving notifications and that staff had been in contact with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. Hopkins told the council and public that the city does not receive pre-notification of ICE operations: "We were not informed in advance when ICE would be in our city," he said, and added staff are working to use the city's alert system to provide timely updates where possible.
A captain with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office told the meeting the county also does not receive advance notice from ICE and that deputies will support public safety if asked. The captain urged residents to sign up for the city alert system and to contact the sheriff when they see enforcement activity. Mayor Sheree read community resources, provided a rapid-response number (888-624-4752 for a rapid-response network noted at the meeting) and expressed solidarity with affected families.
Council members and the manager said that, while the city cannot stop federal enforcement operations, officials will work to improve resident alerts and share information when it becomes available. The mayor also urged residents to record incidents safely and to use established legal and advocacy hotlines for assistance.
