ICE activity leads LA communities to cancel July 4th celebrations
Los Angeles and several surrounding cities have made the difficult decision to cancel or postpone their Fourth of July celebrations in response to increased activity by federal immigration officials in the area. The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation has postponed a summer movie and concert series, as well as canceled the East Los Angeles Rock’n 4th of July celebration this year out of caution. Additionally, one of the city’s biggest Fourth of July events, the Gloria Molina Grand Park Summer Block Party, has been indefinitely postponed due to the ongoing circumstances impacting the region.
Other communities surrounding Los Angeles, including Bell Gardens, Boyle Heights, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Whittier, and the town of El Sereno, have also reportedly decided to cancel their Fourth of July events in light of the ongoing federal immigration enforcement in the area. The cancellation of these events goes beyond just the holiday itself, with Huntington Park announcing a 30-day pause on certain public summer events due to reports of unmarked vehicles and unidentified federal agents causing widespread anxiety among immigrant and mixed-status families.
Officials from these communities have been vocal in their opposition to the Trump administration’s decision to increase federal immigration enforcement. Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores has described the ICE raids in and around Los Angeles as a “campaign of domestic terror” and “psychological warfare,” while the vice mayor of Cudahy allegedly called on gang leaders to defend their territory from ICE in a now-deleted TikTok post.
A report by The New York Times found that, since June 6, agents from several federal agencies have arrested about 2,000 immigrants in the Los Angeles region, causing many residents to be on edge. This increased enforcement has led to fear and uncertainty among the community, with many residents choosing to remain indoors, refrain from work, and withdraw from daily public life.
Despite the cancellation of Fourth of July events, the Pentagon has released 150 California National Guard troops from their federal security mission in Los Angeles to help fight wildfires. The safety and peace of mind of the community remain a top priority for officials in these cities as they navigate the ongoing federal immigration enforcement activities in the region.
