The Los Angeles Post

Solis Issues Statement Following Heavy Federal Presence in MacArthur Park

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, after heavily armed immigration agents descended on MacArthur Park, a neighborhood in the First District, Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and Supervisor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement:

“I am deeply alarmed by the overwhelming federal presence in MacArthur Park this morning. Armed military personnel, mounted on horses and in full tactical gear, arrived just minutes after children had been playing in the area. Those children were quickly ushered into a nearby facility, frightened and confused by what they had just witnessed.

This morning’s show of force is a chilling reminder that the Trump administration continues to target and terrorize our communities under the guise of enforcement. It has now been one month since these mass immigration raids began, since the federalization of the National Guard and the deployment of active-duty Marines against residents of Los Angeles County. A month marked by fear, trauma, and the forced separation of families.

That is why, over the past thirty-one days, I have introduced several motions at the County level to support residents impacted by these actions. These include:

  • June 10 – Authorized County Counsel to join or file an amicus brief following the federalization of the California National Guard and the deployment of active-duty Marines in Los Angeles. This motion also directed the Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) to collaborate with County departments, community organizations, and residents to address gaps in the County’s rapid response network.
  • June 17 – Directed the County’s Department of Economic Opportunity to coordinate direct assistance for working families and local businesses affected by these raids, including the creation of a business interruption fund. This motion also called for an assessment of the economic and workforce impacts caused by the surge in workplace immigration raids.
  • July 1 – Directed County Counsel to pursue legal action against unconstitutional immigration enforcement practices, including stopping, questioning, or detaining individuals without reasonable suspicion, and arresting individuals without probable cause or valid warrants. A separate motion I authored also launched a comprehensive Know Your Rights education campaign, with a special focus on informing youth of their legal rights in civic activism.
  • In addition, I allocated $100,000 in emergency funding to support El Monte Cares, an initiative addressing immediate needs such as food insecurity for families too afraid to leave their homes due to increased immigration enforcement. This model is now being replicated by several cities across the County.

The OIA can also help connect residents to legal support through RepresentLA, a program I established in 2016 and recently helped fund with $5.5 million for this fiscal year. This is in addition to other County resources available for those facing food insecurity, housing instability, workforce disruptions, and more.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by the raids, please contact OIA at 1-800-593-8222 or dial 2-1-1 for assistance.

Despite all that is happening, we will not be intimidated. We will stand together and continue to call for an end to these unlawful raids.”