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Residents demand answers after ICE activity; council says it lacks advance notice
Summary
Dozens of residents told the Compton City Council they witnessed ICE enforcement in commercial corridors and demanded the city provide timely alerts, guidance on residents’ rights and clearer coordination with law enforcement. City officials said neither the sheriff nor the city receive routine advance notice from ICE.
Dozens of residents who spoke during public comment on Jan. 27 told the Compton City Council they had seen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in the city and said the activity was creating fear, disrupting businesses and traumatizing families.
"Fear is not public safety. Silent is not leadership. Our community deserves transparency, dignity, and protection," said Maria Variel, who identified herself as president of the Compton Latino Chamber of Commerce, calling on Mayor Sheree and the council for immediate answers.
Patricia Gonzalez, vice president of the Compton Latino Chamber of Commerce, said she has recorded "videos" of ICE activity and criticized the city for not proactively sharing safety guidance the way nearby jurisdictions do. "Why is Compton not doing the same? Why is this information not being shared on city official platforms and feeds?" she said.
Several other residents gave first‑hand accounts of recent encounters and urged city leaders to use social media and the city alert system to notify residents and businesses when enforcement occurs. "We are demanding transparency, communication, and immediate guidance for our residents," Patricia Gonzalez said.
City Manager Hopkins responded that he and staff checked reported locations after receiving tips but did not locate ICE agents at those sites. Hopkins said he had been on the phone with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and invited a sheriff’s captain to explain the department’s role.
A county captain told the council the sheriff’s office does not receive routine pre‑notice from ICE about enforcement operations and therefore cannot automatically notify the city. "We don't get any pre‑notice whenever ICE is going to be in our city," the captain said, adding that the sheriff's role is limited to supporting safety and preserving the peace if asked.
Hopkins urged residents to sign up for the city's alert system so the city can notify the public of verified incidents. Mayor Sheree also provided resource numbers and websites for people seeking detainee information or rapid‑response assistance.
What happened: Multiple residents described sightings and video evidence of enforcement actions near shopping corridors, and at least one commenter said a U.S. citizen had been tased during an ICE encounter. Residents called for the city to publish guidance on resident rights and to push for more transparent communication with law enforcement.
What officials said: City officials said they do not receive routine notice from ICE and that the city and sheriff can only act on confirmed information; they encouraged residents to report incidents via rapid‑response hotlines and the city's alert system.
Next steps: City staff said they will explore using the municipal alert system to distribute verified information and encouraged residents to call the rapid‑response network (888‑624‑4752) and check local.ice.gov for detainee information. The council did not adopt any new formal directive at the Jan. 27 meeting.
Attribution: Quotes and attributions in this article come from public comment speakers Maria Variel and Patricia Gonzalez and from statements by City Manager Hopkins and a Los Angeles County Sheriff's captain during the council meeting on Jan. 27, 2026.
