Long Beach’s immigration rights organization and rapid response network ÓRALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation & Empowerment) is once again asking the City to increase funding and protections for Long Beach’s immigrant population amidst raids in Los Angeles and surrounding cities.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) performed immigration raids in the fashion district of downtown Los Angeles, and at a Home Depot in the Westlake District Friday morning. At least 40 people were detained by federal agents, including local labor union president David Huerta, who as of Saturday evening has not been released.
Huerta was arrested for obstructing access from federal agents, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli told KTLA5.
Over 1,000 Los Angeles residents responded with protests on Friday, which are still ongoing as of 5 p.m. Saturday. On Saturday morning, ICE agents moved into surrounding cities, including Paramount. As of 5 p.m. on Saturday, Paramount residents are still protesting ICE’s presence in front of the Home Depot on Alondra Boulevard in Paramount.
Mayor Rex Richardson posted his response to the Los Angeles raids on social media on Friday evening, writing, “Today, we saw the news that ICE conducted widespread raids across Los Angeles County at court appointments, workplaces, and on the streets. While no activity has yet been reported in Long Beach, this operation is deeply troubling. Officers arrive without warning while masked and without identification, leaving just as quickly. These raids instill fear in residents, communities, and profoundly damage public trust. We are in contact with local immigrant rights organizations and stand ready to support our immigrant communities.”
View the mayor’s full statement here.
ÓRALE, which works to provide immigrants with legal aid and help families in detention centers, have been asking Long Beach for longterm, structural funds for years. The organization’s Justice Fund, which helps to pay for immigrant’s legal services while they fight deportation, is currently funded through one-time dollars.
The Justice Fund was created in 2019, and expanded last year with a $1.4 million allocation. ÓRALE has been asking the City to invest another $2.2 million for legal support for Long Beach’s immigrant population.
The organization posted a message on its social media channels on Friday night, again urging the City to take action, saying, “Mayor Richardson’s response to today’s ICE raids shows he understands the fear ICE is purposely instilling in immigrant communities. But Long Beach needs more than awareness. We need ACTION … The raids happened in LA today. They could happen in Long Beach tomorrow. Every day that goes by, the need grows more urgent.”
Roughly 1/4 of Long Beach residents, or around 111,000 people, are immigrants, according to the U.S. Census. Around 54,000 of these people are undocumented, according to a March 2025 study from the Vera Institute of Justice. That same study estimates that Long Beach immigrants make up 28% of the city’s labor force, and roughly 7,000 immigrants are entrepreneurs in Long Beach.
The Filipino Migrant Center, which serves Filipino immigrants in Long Beach and is part of the Justice Fund Coalition, also posted a message on social media calling for the City to further invest in the Justice Fund.
Along with the Justice Fund, ÓRALE has also enlisted Long Beach residents who are U.S. citizens for its rapid response network. These people respond to reports of ICE in the city to make sure people are aware of their rights.
ÓRALE also has a hotline 562-245-9575 for residents to report possible ICE activity. Members of ÓRALE and rapid response volunteers then travel to the location reported to confirm or deny the activity.
“The question isn’t whether ICE will come to Long Beach. The question is: Will our city be ready to stand up for immigrant families when they do,” ÓRALE’s statement continued.
View ÓRALE’s full statement here.
What You Can Do:
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- Attend the Long Beach Justice Fund Rally on Tuesday, June 10 at 5 p.m. in front of City Hall (411 W. Ocean Blvd.) to urge the City to allocate $2.2 million to the Justice Fund immediately.
- If you see an immigration raid or any ICE activity within the City of Long Beach, report it to 562-245-9575.
- Become a rapid response volunteer with ÓRALE by filling out the interest form at bit.ly/rapid562.
- Donate to ÓRALE: bit.ly/oralelb.
