Whittier, CA – During last night’s meeting of the Whittier City Council, Councilmember Mary Ann Pacheco introduced an ordinance that would require federal immigration agents conducting operations in the City of Whittier to remove their face coverings and identify themselves. Instead, the majority of the Council voted to direct staff to study the impact that ICE raids are having on the City, and provide a report at their August 12th council meeting.
Supervisor Janice Hahn, Assemblywoman Lisa Calderon, and U.S. Congresswoman Linda Sanchez—whose districts include Whittier—issued the following joint statement:
"We are deeply concerned and disappointed by the Whittier City Council’s refusal to consider Councilmember Mary Ann Pacheco’s proposed ordinance, which would have required federal immigration agents in Whittier to remove their face coverings and identify themselves.
We commend Councilmember Pacheco for her leadership and courage in standing up for immigrant families and attempting to take meaningful, immediate action.
Suggesting that the Council must study the impact ICE raids are having on the City before making a “knee-jerk decision” minimizes the very real fear and trauma immigrant communities have been experiencing. Over the last few weeks, we’ve watched as masked ICE thugs have conducted multiple unlawful operations in the City that did not target criminals, but indiscriminately went after hard-working people who are beloved members of our Whittier community. Just as in countless other communities across Los Angeles County, these violent ICE actions have robbed families of breadwinners, small businesses of employees and customers, and have left many silenced and afraid. A study of the impacts would take time; ICE is terrorizing our neighborhoods right now. That is a fact.
As the County, State and Federal representatives for the City of Whittier, we strongly urge Mayor Joe Vinatieri and the rest of the City Council to agendize Councilmember Pacheco’s ordinance, and to join us in speaking out against these aggressive and unnecessary sweeps."
