Latest news with #Jurado
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
Several 4th of July celebrations canceled in Los Angeles over fears of ICE raids
Several Fourth of July celebrations have been canceled in Los Angeles over fears of raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to local officials and event organizers. In early June, ICE agents carried out a series of immigration sweeps across Southern California, sparking protests in Los Angeles that spread nationwide as the raids impacted other parts of the country. The threat of continued ICE raids has continued, prompting some officials and organizers to express concern over the welfare of revelers congregating in large celebratory gatherings. The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation said it postponed the East Los Angeles Rockin' 4th of July celebration -- as well as the Summer Movies and Concert in the Parks series that takes place at Schabarum Park -- due to potential ICE raids. "Out of caution, and in response to recent ICE enforcement activity impacting our communities, we are prioritizing safety and well-being of our residents, visitors, and staff," the parks department wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. Organizers for the Gloria Molina Grand Park Summer Block Party in Los Angeles County wrote on an Instagram post that the event is being postponed out of "an abundance of caution." "We know this is disappointing news," organizers said. "We were so looking forward to celebrating with all of you at #TheParkforEveryone. Please know that your safety is our absolute first priority." The party was scheduled to take place Friday afternoon through the nighttime fireworks show. Postponements and cancellations also occurred in the Bell Gardens and Cudahy, which are predominately Hispanic communities, ABC Los Angeles station KABC reported. In addition, the El Sereno Bicentennial Committee canceled its 66th Annual Independence Day Parade after several entries were withdrawn leading up to the holiday, organizers announced on June 20. The is typically filled with local groups, schools, organizations and performers as well as classic cars and motorcycle stunt shows on Route 66. "The people who participate in the parade are some of the most patriotic people you would meet," parade organizers said in a statement. "Our community has always been a melting pot of many cultures and beliefs. It is what has given our town its strength and resiliency." Independence Day celebrations at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, however, are expected to continue -- but this year with a drone show, rather than fireworks. But events in public spaces feel "dangerous" for many residents, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who oversees District 14, told KABC. "This is not the time to host large public gatherings because people are afraid," Jurado said. "For Fourth of July and Independence, it rings hollow for a lot of our constituents here." Elsewhere throughout the country, security protocols were ramping up ahead of the holiday. The New York City Police Department is expected to deploy hundreds of officers and impose closures on roads, bridges and train routes due to a heightened threat environment, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced Wednesday.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cities Are Canceling Fourth Of July Events Over Immigration Raid Fears
Multiple cities in Southern California have canceled or postponed Fourth of July celebrations over fears that ICE could target large public gatherings. Canceled or postponed events have been reported in cities including Los Angeles, Huntington Park, Cudahy, Bell Gardens and Whittier after local officials said residents raised concerns. According to The New York Times, about 2,000 immigrants in the Los Angeles area have been arrested since the beginning of June, when a series of immigration raids sparked protests and drew a heavy law enforcement response and military deployment. Since then, arrests have been reported at taco trucks, worksites and even immigration court — prompting some Latino residents to avoid going out in public, whether they have legal status or not. Huntington Park, California, has put a 30-day pause on summer events because of 'growing disruptions' by ICE activity, according to a reported city statement. 'Reports of unmarked vehicles and unidentified federal agents have created widespread anxiety, particularly among immigrant and mixed-status families,' the statement reads. 'Many residents have expressed fear and uncertainty, leading them to remain indoors, refrain from work, and withdraw from daily public life. Our priority is and will continue to be the safety and peace of mind of our community.' The City of Cudahy announced on social media that its Independence Day Celebration will be postponed 'due to recent events and concerns regarding the safety of our residents.' The announcement comes after the city's vice mayor posted a now-deleted TikTok calling on gang members to defend their territory amid ICE raids. She said later that the FBI visited her home. The city of Bell Gardens announced on Instagram that 'out of an abundance of caution regarding concerns for resident safety over federal immigration enforcement activities,' the city was canceling events between last week and July 10. Fourth of July events in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and northeast Los Angeles have been postponed to August due to immigration raids, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado's office announced. Jurado, who represents District 14, has spoken out against the ICE raids on social media. Gloria Molina Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles announced on its website that because of 'recent events affecting a portion of Downtown L.A. and the ongoing circumstances impacting the region,' its summer block party would be postponed until later in the summer. The mayor of the city of Whittier, a city in Los Angeles County, said in a news release that the city is canceling its Fourth of July Freedom Walk after residents expressed their concerns. 'While celebrating our nation's founding is very important to me and to Whittier residents, my colleagues and I also want to be sensitive to the recent feedback we've received from some community members asking that we pause this year's Freedom Walk event,' Mayor Joe Vinatieri said in a news release. It's unclear what the feedback was. Reps from the city did not respond to a request for comment. The ICE raids have left fear and anxiety in many Latinos living in the U.S. Immigrants — documented and undocumented — have said they don't leave their homes because they are afraid of getting swept up in a raid. Hector Mata, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen, told The New York Times that he avoids taking the bus. 'I'm brown and that's all they need,' Mata said about federal agents. Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores has been outspoken against the ICE raids, calling them a 'campaign of domestic terror.' 'It is a campaign of domestic terror that is being imposed on our residents on a daily basis,' Flores said, according to the Guardian. 'It is a level of psychological warfare that I've only seen in theaters of war. It's terrifying seeing it being displayed here in my city.' Trump Allies Want DOJ To Investigate CNN, Rising App That Tracks ICE Movements Canadian Officials, Family Seek Answers After U.S. Resident Dies In ICE Custody Democrats Want To Ban Masked ICE Agents
Los Angeles Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Agitators? Narcissists? L.A. politicians search for the words to sum up protest chaos
Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It's David Zahniser, with an assist from Julia Wick, giving you the latest on city and county government. L.A.'s Little Tokyo neighborhood was a mess on Monday. Windows were shattered in multiple locations. Graffiti seemed like it was everywhere. State Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles) had had enough. Gonzalez, who took office in December, had already voiced outrage over the immigration raids being conducted in his downtown district. But this time, he took aim at the people he called 'anti-ICE rioters,' portraying them as narcissists and urging them to stay far away from the demonstrations happening downtown. 'Causing chaos, damaging neighborhoods, and live-streaming for likes helps no one,' he said in a lengthy press release. 'Our elders, small businesses, and public spaces deserve better.' Gonzalez did not stop there. He chided demonstrators for spray-painting historic landmarks and pointing fireworks at police, telling them that 'terrorizing residents is not protest.' 'If you're out here chasing clout while our neighbors are scared and storefronts are boarded up — you're not helping, you're harming,' said Gonzalez, a former chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. 'You're playing right into Trump's hands and undermining the very movement you claim to support.' Politicians in L.A. have been reacting all week to the reports of violence, theft and vandalism that accompanied a week of anti-ICE protests. But each has had a somewhat different way of naming the perpetrators — and summing up their actions. Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, whose district also includes much of downtown, was more muted in her description of the people who created mayhem this week, referring to them as 'agitators' and 'opportunists.' 'Look, for the most part, this has been a peaceful protest,' she said in an interview. 'But there are definitely some other folks that join that are not here to support immigrants and peacefulness, but are taking this as an opportunity to do something else. And I definitely condemn that.' Jurado has spent the last few days highlighting her efforts to secure small business loans for struggling downtown businesses, especially those that were vandalized or had merchandise stolen. She is also pushing for city leaders to find another $1 million to pay for the legal defense of immigrants who have been detained or face deportation. At the same time, the events of the past week have put Jurado in an awkward spot. Luz Aguilar, her economic development staffer, was arrested last weekend on suspicion of assaulting a police officer at an anti-ICE protest. Normally, an aide like Aguilar might have been tasked with helping some of the downtown businesses whose windows were smashed or wares were stolen. Instead, Jurado faced questions about Aguilar while appearing with Mayor Karen Bass at the city's Emergency Operations Center. The LAPD has repeatedly declined to provide specifics on the allegations against Aguilar, whose father is Chief Deputy Controller Rick Cole. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing rank-and-file officers, said in an email to its members that Aguilar has been accused of throwing a frozen water bottle at officers. Neither Cole nor Jurado's staff would confirm or refute that assertion. Jurado, in an interview, also declined to say whether she sees her staffer as one of the agitators. 'She is on unpaid leave, and we'll see what happens,' she said. The search for the right words has not been limited to downtown politicians. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson offered a lengthy soliloquy, saying police in recent days had encountered 'looters coming out of stores with merchandise in their hands' who are using the ongoing protests as cover. 'Someone at midnight running around looting, even though there was a protest earlier, that person's not a protester,' Harris-Dawson told his colleagues Tuesday. 'That person's a looter. That person's a criminal.' The same terms apply after Dodgers victories, Harris-Dawson said, when someone in a street celebration decides to set things on fire. 'We don't say Dodger fans burned a building. We say criminals burned a building,' he said. Bass declared a local state of emergency in the wake of the downtown chaos, citing the violence against police, the vandalism and the 'looting of businesses.' The declaration, issued Tuesday, simply refers to the perpetrators as criminals. The mayor sounded genuinely frustrated, telling The Times on Thursday that she was 'horrified' by the graffiti that covered the Japanese American National Museum, which highlights the struggle of immigrants, and other buildings in Little Tokyo. 'Anybody that is committing vandalism or violence does not give a crap about immigrants,' she told another news outlet. Gonzalez, for his part, said he produced his anti-rioter screed after hearing from senior citizens in Little Tokyo who were terrified to leave their homes and walk into the melee on the street. 'They were literally throwing fireworks at cops' faces at San Pedro and 3rd,' he said. Other downtown residents sounded unfazed, telling The Times that the disruptions were 'kind of the usual.' In recent years, major sports victories have been just as likely to end with illegal fireworks, graffiti and burning or vandalized vehicles downtown — even when the games aren't played there. Jurado said she is searching for 'creative solutions' to prevent such crimes in the future, such as promoting the fact that downtown businesses are in 'full support of the protests.' 'There were Little Tokyo businesses that weren't graffitied on because they had a sign on the window that was pro-actively 'Know your Rights,' or against ICE,' she said. 'So they didn't get graffitied on. At least that's from my anecdotal evidence.' 'So I think if we put that at the forefront, we can help educate our community members to keep our neighborhoods safe and beautiful,' she said. — CITY IN CRISIS: The crisis sparked by the immigration sweeps reverberated throughout the week, with Bass urging President Trump to end the raids, ordering a curfew for downtown and Chinatown and speaking out against the tackling of U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla by federal agents. By the time the week ended, City Hall and surrounding government buildings were being guarded by scores of law enforcement officers from around the state — Hermosa Beach Police, San Fernando Police, Riverside County Sheriff, Santa Barbara County Sheriff, just to name a few. Amid the heavy police presence, Friday's city council meeting was canceled. — TAKING OFF THE GLOVES: For most of her time at City Hall, Bass has avoided public confrontations with other elected officials, including President Trump. But with ICE fanning out across L.A. and her city engulfed in protest, those days are over. As she navigates the crisis, Bass has also gained the opportunity for a crucial reset after the Palisades fire. — CHAFED AT THE CHIEF: Earlier in the week, members of the City Council grilled LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell over his agency's handling of anti-ICE protests. Harris-Dawson bristled at the idea that the LAPD would refer to federal immigration authorities as 'law enforcement partners.' 'If we know somebody is coming here to do warrant-less abductions of the residents of this city, those are not our partners,' he said. 'I don't care what badge they have on or whose orders they're under. They're not our partners.' — PADILLA PUSHBACK: City Councilmember Imelda Padilla, in a separate line of questioning, asked if the LAPD could warn city officials when it hears from federal law enforcement that immigration raids are coming. McDonnell said such actions would amount to obstruction of justice. 'That would be completely inappropriate and illegal,' he said. — A 'MIX OF EMOTIONS': McDonnell has been offering support to LAPD officers who may have mixed feelings about the ongoing federal crackdown. In one message, he acknowledged that some in the majority-Latino department have been 'wrestling with the personal impact' of the immigration sweeps. 'You may be wearing the uniform and fulfilling your duty, but inside, you're asked to hold a complex mix of emotions,' the chief wrote. — WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee broke his silence on the pivotal 2017 Las Vegas trip that later resulted in the criminal conviction of his onetime boss, Councilmember Mitchell Englander. Lee took the virtual witness stand last week in his own Ethics Commission case, repeatedly denying allegations that he accepted gifts in Vegas — food, drink, travel — in violation of city laws. At one point in his Zoom testimony, Lee said he stuffed $300 into the pocket of businessmen Andy Wang, a key witness in the proceedings, in an attempt to cover his share of the expenses at a pricey nightclub. — RAPID RESPONDERS: Faced with an onslaught of ICE raids locally and threats from politicians nationally, L.A.'s immigrant rights groups are in the fight of their lives. Those groups have been participating in the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network, a coalition of 300 volunteers and 23 organizations formed last year to respond to ICE enforcement. — COUNTING THE BEDS: We told you last week that City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo was the city's star witness in its court battle with the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, which is seeking to place the city's homelessness programs in receivership. On Wednesday, Szabo filed a declaration in federal court that pushes back on assertions that the city may have massively double counted the homeless beds it included under a pair of legal settlements. Szabo said city officials identified 12 instances of double counting in an agreement requiring 12,915 beds, and would appropriately correct the record. — DEAL FOR MORE COPS? It seems like a lifetime ago, but last weekend Bass announced that she had struck a deal with Harris-Dawson, the council president, to find the money to restore her plan for hiring 480 police officers next year. Bass said Harris-Dawson has committed to identify the funding for those hires within three months. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who sits on the budget committee, said he is open to finding the money but was not part of any promise to do so within 90 days. That's it for this week! Send your questions, comments and gossip to LAontheRecord@ Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Saturday morning.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado Aide on Leave Following Anti-Ice Protest Arrest
Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado Aide on Leave Following Anti-Ice Protest Arrest originally appeared on L.A. Mag. An aide to Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado has been put on unpaid leave following their arrest at an anti-ICE protest. 'My office is aware that a member of my staff has been arrested. The allegations are deeply concerning and I take them very seriously,' Jurado said in a statement provided to LA Mag. According to the Los Angeles Times, which obtained Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department inmate records, Luz Aguilar was arrested around 7 p.m. on June 9 for suspicion of assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon. Their twin sister, Antonia Aguilar, was also arrested, and they were being held in lieu of the $50,000 bail. Aguilar had been the deputy of community growth and economic innovation for Jurado. Last year during her campaign for the City Council seat she now occupies, Yurado — who declared herself an abolitionist who would get rid of the LAPD in a Democratic Socialist of America questionnaire — was criticized when she was recorded saying "Fuck the Police." Serving District 14, she represents Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Boyle Heights and downtown. Yurado took office in December 2024 and became the first person of Filipino descent on the city council. 'While I respect the individual's right to due process, I hold my team to the highest standards of conduct,' Jurado also said. 'They have been placed on unpaid leave while we assess the facts and consider appropriate action.' When ICE raids began on June 6, Jurado spoke to a crowd outside City Hall, reflecting on the 'heinous' acts of the federal government 'to inflict fear and suffering' during Pride Month and graduation celebrations. 'Make no mistake, this was not a coincidence. It was a deliberate act and a calculated attempt to take joy from our communities, to replace celebration with anxiety,' she said. 'What kind of government plans this violence during our most sacred moments of joy? The footage speaks for itself. This is cruelty disguised as policy. Any notion that this is about public safety is a deluded lie.' Aguilar is also the child of Pasadena Councilmember Rick Cole, who has been in attendance at protests. 'It's a loud, but entirely peaceful exercise of our rights to stand against cruel and arbitrary deportations of our neighbors and workers in our community,' he wrote in an Instagram post. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
L.A. City Council aide put on unpaid leave following arrest at anti-ICE protest
An aide to Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado has been placed on unpaid leave after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon at an anti-ICE protest, Jurado and her staff said Monday. Luz Aguilar, who serves as Jurado's deputy for economic innovation and community growth, was arrested around 7 p.m. Sunday and booked several hours later, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department inmate records. "The allegations are deeply concerning and I take them very seriously," Jurado, who represents downtown and neighborhoods on L.A.'s Eastside, said in a statement. "While I respect the individual's right to due process, I hold my team to the highest standards of conduct." Aguilar's father is Pasadena City Councilmember Rick Cole, who is also a high-level aide to L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia. Aguilar's sister, 26-year-old Antonia Aguilar, was arrested at the same time, records show. Both were being held on $50,000 bail. Jurado said Aguilar — who is listed in inmate records as AguilarCole — has been placed on unpaid leave while the council office assesses the facts and considers "appropriate action." Although Aguilar was accused of assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon, "it's a developing situation," said Lisa Marroquin, a spokesperson for Jurado. Marroquin could not say which law enforcement agency the officer was from. Cole, in a text message, said Monday that he did not yet have information on the allegations. A day earlier, while appearing at an anti-ICE rally in Pasadena, he said the fight against the immigration arrests was "personal" to him. "I've just seen pictures of my two daughters on a curb in downtown Los Angeles in handcuffs [with] the LAPD," he said at the rally. "So I'm going to be figuring out where they are so I can go bail them out." Protests against federal immigration raids continued to rage on Sunday after President Trump ordered the National Guard to Southern California. Some demonstrators in downtown L.A. dropped rocks from a freeway overpass onto police cruisers, while others vandalized government buildings, burned Waymo cars or burglarized businesses. Mejia, Cole's boss, is an outspoken critic of the LAPD. On Friday, Mejia voiced concerns about the presence of LAPD officers "within the vicinity of ICE raids." Mejia said he has asked for the department to turn over information about the financial impact of the raids on police resources. L.A. declared itself a sanctuary city last year, and Police Chief Jim McDonnell has repeatedly said that the LAPD is not involved in "civil immigration enforcement," pointing to a decades-old policy. "LAPD's presence raises serious questions about whether we are abiding by our City's mandate as a Sanctuary City and is a cause for concern and confusion regarding LAPD's role," Mejia said in a statement on social media. An LAPD spokesperson did not have any details on the arrests when reached by The Times. Jurado, a former tenant rights attorney, won a seat on the 15-member council in November. During the campaign, she described herself as an abolitionist — someone who supports the abolition of police and prisons. During the campaign's final weeks, Jurado was heard on a recording telling college students, "F— the police that's how I see 'em." She later issued a statement downplaying her remark, saying it was "just a lyric" from a rap song. The City Council has scheduled a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss the federal immigration raids — including "related threats to public service and facilities" — and has left open the possibility of a closed-door meeting with McDonnell on that topic. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
