LOS ANGELES () — Karen Bass and other local mayors joined immigrant advocates and faith leaders at a forum on federal immigration enforcement’s impact on the Southern California region.
During the town hall, local residents impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement shared testimonials.
The forum was held at the Democracy Center at the Japanese American National Museum, a building that houses the history of Japanese immigrants in America.
Leaders heard from people affected by federal raids on the local Latino community and called for an end to inhumane enforcement tactics.
“The ICE raids are inhumane and simply do not do anything to keep anyone safe,” Bass said.
San Fernando Mayor Joel Fajardo said: “We’ve witnessed unspeakable acts — families being torn apart, communities living in fear, children scared to go to school and uncertain if their parents will return home.”
“Moments like this require us to speak up together, not as individual jurisdictions but as a region,” Mayor Rex Richardson of Long Beach said.
The mayors shared data on raids documented in each of their cities. They plan to add that data to Rep. Robert Garcia’s growing national database.
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