Long Beach is joining the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) lawsuit against the month-long immigration raids that have terrorized Southern California, the City announced at a press conference Friday afternoon.
The lawsuit filed on July 1 was made with several immigration and civil rights groups, and alleges that federal agents are “using unlawful stop and arrest practices,” then denying people access to attorneys. Several other cities such as Culver City, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Santa Monica and West Hollywood joined the lawsuit earlier this month against President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics.
The practices the ACLU alleges are unlawful include detaining people based on race and ethnicity, and targeting common workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. The complaint specifically mentions recurring raids at places like Home Depot, carwashes and swap meets. On June 26, at least six people were taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from the Home Depot in Signal Hill, according to ÓRALE’s rapid response volunteers.
The lawsuit also details how federal agents refuse to identify themselves “as a tactic to shield lawlessness” and mentions “inhumane conditions” that people are being subjected to in a downtown Los Angeles federal detention center.
The Department of Homeland Security responded to the ACLU’s lawsuit, calling the claims “disgusting and categorically FALSE.”
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said the City Council unanimously decided to join this lawsuit after a closed session that took place directly before the press conference in front of City Hall Friday afternoon.
“Long Beach is proud to throw its full weight behind this effort,” Richardson said. “Joining a high profile federal lawsuit is not a symbolic gesture, it’s a tactical decision. Our legal team, in partnership with our City leadership, our community advocates have worked to ensure Long Beach’s participation is impactful, effective and sustainable.”
On July 11, the Long Beach Post published an article where Richardson said he’s in favor of joining the lawsuit “if it works.”
Hours later, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order that bars federal agents from its sweeps unless there is “reasonable suspicion” that the person has violated immigration law. In effect, the order prohibits agents from stopping and detaining people based only on race, for speaking Spanish or being at a site like a Home Depot or day laborer pick-up spot.
Several labor, immigrant and community leaders joined the press conference offering their support, such as ÓRALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation and Empowerment), the Filipino Migrant Center, United Cambodian Community, Centro CHA, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, California Community Foundation and the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council.
“Long Beach is home to the largest Cambodian population in the nation due to thousands of Cambodian refugees resettling here after experiencing unspeakable trauma through the Khmer genocide in the late 1970s. Fifty years later, this trauma has returned due to the traumatic immigration enforcement efforts that are happening today,” said Susana Sngiem, executive director of the United Cambodian Community.
Southern California’s lawsuit with the ACLU is one of hundreds that have been filed against policy changes from the Trump administration, according to a New York Times tracker.
This is what happens when you are a “sanctuary city.” Since the government will not cooperate with Federal authorities, they use tactics that are much broader in scope than would be used if the government cooperated by identifying criminals in custody. As a result, many illegals are swept up in pursuit of the more dangerous criminal element. You want to stop these tactics; simply stop the sanctuary city policies.
What REALLY needs to be done is to STOP the illegal immigration in the FIRST PLACE! There…Problem solved!