On Wednesday, June 25, Long Beach Transit employees received a letter from the company instructing them what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempt to enter their workplaces, including restricted areas and public buses.
Employees were told in the letter they “must not attempt to block or disrupt” ICE’s actions, comparing the policy to “interactions with any law enforcement agency.”
As of July 1, Long Beach Transit said they have not detected any ICE activity within its system. The company confirmed with the Signal Tribune that the letter was sent out to employees as part of its standard operating procedures to ensure “full compliance with all applicable laws.”
According to a Long Beach Transit media representative, employees are not directed to verify that the person is law enforcement before they enter public transit. Instead, Transit Police will verify they are law enforcement and the “nature of the activity” once they arrive.
“It’s just unacceptable to say that it’s not the duty of their staff to verify any of that, and that they’re not allowed to disrupt. What we’re seeing is a huge health issue, by folks being kidnapped in the street. So how that message comes across to our community is, ‘Don’t ride our buses. You’re not safe here,’” said Gaby Hernandez, executive director of Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation and Empowerment (ÓRALE).
ÓRALE is advising residents to no longer use public transportation in Long Beach due to the ongoing safety issue, Hernandez told the Signal Tribune.
“We know that has a huge impact on people getting to school, people getting to work … It’s a huge challenge for people, and it shouldn’t be,” Hernandez said. “We shouldn’t have to be in this position. People should be able to freely ride the buses, people should be able to be in bus stops and this administration is terrifying our communities so much that daily activities are not being conducted anymore because people are afraid of leaving their homes.”
The letter was sent from Long Beach Transit President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth McDonald, beginning, “In light of recent events across the Los Angeles region, we recognize that this is a challenging time for many, including our employees. While these continuing developments may affect individuals differently, our role as public servants remains clear and steadfast.”
The letter goes on to provide “operational instructions” for if ICE attempts to enter buses, the Transit Visitor Information Center or corporate offices. Employees are directed to call their department supervisor and the Transit Service Delivery dispatch. Long Beach Transit will then contact their System Security Manager Billy Anderson, according to the letter.
A Long Beach Transit media representative told the Signal Tribune that the dispatch team will contact the Transit Police, who is contracted by the Long Beach Police Department.
Hernandez has been with ÓRALE for years and said this policy from Long Beach Transit is indicative of how Long Beach leadership has treated the City’s sanctuary policies. Even with the passage of the Long Beach Values Act, she said the nonprofit is “always pushing for that to be respected.”
The Long Beach Values Act means that the City will not collaborate with or aid ICE, or give out sensitive information to the agency. Hernandez said she was told the City can’t step in unless there’s a public safety concern.
“So my question was, ‘What is a public safety concern?’ The public safety concern to me is people being kidnapped in the street. And in their eyes they may not see it that way, which is unacceptable,” Hernandez said. “We should have leadership strong enough to say, ‘We will not allow this to happen in our city. We will not allow our people to be kidnapped.”
The Signal Tribune received this statement from Long Beach Transit regarding the letter, “Our highest priority is the safety of our employees and customers, and serving the diverse and vibrant communities in our service area … The memorandum was focused on providing LBT employees with resources about what to do should they encounter any challenges with law enforcement onboard a bus or at a facility.”
At least a dozen Long Beach residents have been taken by ICE in the last month, Hernandez said. ÓRALE is going off of the number of people who reach out to them for legal defense assistance, so the actual number of people taken by ICE may be higher.
According to ABC7, 722 people were arrested by ICE in the Los Angeles County area in the first 10 days of June. Six people were taken by ICE from a Home Depot parking lot and Hilltop Park in Signal Hill on June 26.
Long Beach’s Justice Fund provides free legal aid to immigrants facing deportation through several nonprofits. Since January, ÓRALE, the United Cambodian Community and the Filipino Migrant Center have been asking the City to allocate another $2.2 million to the fund, more than doubling its current budget.
On June 10, hundreds of community members rallied for this increase in front of Long Beach City Hall. Inside the building, Mayor Rex Richardson said during a council meeting that any increased funding would have to follow the “regular budget cycle.”
“While I understand that the final product happens at the end of August, we still need an allocation now,” Hernandez said, adding that City leadership could promise that money ahead of time.
What You Can Do:
- Organize: Talk to your neighbors and put together a carpool schedule so vulnerable communities do not have to rely on public transportation during this time.
- Connect: If you know someone from Long Beach or Signal Hill who has been detained by ICE, call ÓRALE (562-245-9575), the United Cambodian Community (562-999-1755), or the Filipino Migrant Center (562-453-3408) to get help through the Long Beach Justice Fund.
- Reach Out: If you are unable to leave your home due to the ongoing ICE raids, check our list of grocery and other essentials drop-offs here. If you need mental health resources, check our list here.
Differing news stories on this issue. Please get to the bottom of this matter. LB Transit should not invite ICE onto buses, whether intentional or not.