The Central Group recently passed a resolution condemning the actions of the Federal government in the name of immigration enforcement in the Los Angeles region. The Angeles Chapter recently expanded the scope of the resolution to include both Orange and LA Counties. The text of the resolution is below:
ANGELES CHAPTER RESOLUTION ON FEDERAL RAIDS AND ACTIONS IN LOS ANGELES
Whereas, since early June, the Federal government has stationed a publicly unknowable number of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents, and possibly others, in Los Angeles. ICE has a large presence in Los Angeles and other regions of the Angeles Chapter, with additional operations conducted at least by both the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations). The Federal Government also has deployed at least 4,000 National Guard troops, 700 Marines and 700 personnel from the 49th Military Police Brigade to Los Angeles.
Whereas, Federal agents or other unidentified individuals often dress in intimidating combat gear and masks, arm themselves with rifles, and drive unmarked cars with no license plates. They have stormed swap meets, car washes, bus stops, and churches since early June, grabbing people off of sidewalks, dragging away at least one pregnant woman, mothers, day laborers, and even US citizens.
Whereas, on July 7, 2025 around 100 US Government or other unidentified masked people stormed MacArthur Park in Los Angeles in a performative act of intimidation. Accompanied by armored vehicles, on horseback and on foot, with faces covered, they set up a perimeter around the park and then advanced through it, shutting down a children’s summer camp, among other things.
Whereas, there have been numerous ICE raids in Los Angeles County and Orange County Parks. Los Angeles County has seen a two-thirds decrease in participation in their overnight camping for families at Santa Fe dam due to fear of raids. Many other parks have cancelled their outdoor programming due to fear. The concerts in the parks programs have been cancelled, as have city park events. ICE also has been observed in our national parks and forests. The impact of these raids has not been limited to participation in parks and summer events, but has also resulted in a decrease in use of public transportation, and a reduction in revenue for locally owned businesses and services. Wearing no immediately identifiable uniform and refusing to identify themselves, the agents project an intentionally intimidating image and often produce a flight or fight reaction among their targeted individuals. Their seizures of individuals by ICE and others look less like lawful arrests and more like kidnappings.
Whereas, according to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, Public Counsel and the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, these Federal agents or others with unknown affiliations, have been operating in mostly Latino neighborhoods, hitting at least fifteen Home Depot parking lots, nine car washes, a Santa Ana park, a swap meet in Santa Fe Springs, and several churches. Abducted Angelenos are taken to the basement of a Federal facility downtown, provided little food and water and often are not provided with the ability to speak to an attorney, as required by law. The holding cells are so crowded that there has not been space to sit or lay down.
Whereas, the deployment, manner and means, abductions and jailing by the federal government in the name of immigration enforcement is rooted in racism. Little effort apparently is made to identify potential targets by arrest records, criminal convictions, or expired visas; rather, individuals appear to be called out by the shade of their skin, whether they are speaking Spanish, or simply the areas they hang out in. We believe this is racial profiling at its worst. The racist actions of the federal government are designed to intimidate and escalate conflict and are inhumane and cruel.
Whereas, the Angeles Chapter and its members have been significantly impacted due to the fear caused by the presence of masked, unidentified supposed Federal agents who have abducted mostly brown Angelenos. Angelenos are not showing up in public spaces and are unable to be in community due to the fear and cost of a potential abduction, even if they are US citizens. The region is in shut-down mode and fearful.
Whereas, it is impossible to separate our work as an environmental organization from the environment of fear that has been created in our brothers and sisters in Los Angeles due to the Federal action. Advocating for a more sustainable world cannot be dissociated from advocating for democracy, human rights and humanistic values.
Whereas, in 2017, the Sierra Club took a stand in support of immigrants, when President Trump was first elected to office. We had signs that we proudly displayed, saying “We support immigrants.”
For all of the foregoing reasons, the Angeles Chapter condemns these actions of the Federal Government. A vibrant, diverse immigrant population is a foundational component of American greatness. We recognize that many of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. As we did in 2017, we stand together with our immigrant communities.