By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Bass, Richardson, Fajardo Lead Hearing Exposing ICE Abuses & Response
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and San Fernando Mayor Joel Fajardo joined more than 20 mayors from across the region on Friday to lead a town hall and field hearing in Downtown Los Angeles, titled “On the Frontlines: Confronting the Human Cost of ICE Deportations and Defending Our Communities.”
The regional hearing revealed the urgent pressures weighing on immigrant communities, showing how the federal raids threaten basic rights and disrupt families throughout Los Angeles and its surrounding areas.
Personal testimonies highlighted repeated rights violations, offering a vivid account of the human consequences of immigration enforcement both in the region and across the country.
“Listen to these testimonies from Angelenos—it’s gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. Los Angeles will not stand for ICE’s fear, intimidation and unlawful targeting,” said Bass. “Today’s hearing exposed the devastating effects on Angelenos—including U.S. citizens—who have been detained without cause, assaulted, and stripped of their freedom. These stories are not only alarming—they are intolerable. Such attacks strike at the very heart of our city, and we are seeing their impact spread across the county.”
“Unconstitutional immigration raids and the fear they create go against the moral fabric of our nation and the fundamental rights our Constitution is meant to protect,” said Fajardo. “In cities like San Fernando, immigrant families are our neighbors, our small business owners, and an essential part of the fabric of our community. When families live with fear and uncertainty, it affects entire neighborhoods, local businesses, and the stability of our communities.”
“Today’s hearing is about bringing together elected leaders and community partners from all across our region to speak with one voice to end the trauma and hostility this federal administration has inflicted on the hardworking immigrant families and communities who call LA County home,” said Richardson. “The community testimonies gathered on the record at today’s forum will provide an essential tool to hold this administration accountable for the atrocities it has waged against our diverse local neighborhoods and economy.”
Mitchell Tackles Illegal Dumping in Unincorporated Cities
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (D-Southwest/Central Los Angeles, including Inglewood, Compton, Carson, Hawthorne, Culver City, portions of South LA) last week addressed Illegal dumping in the unincorporated communities in her district, which continues to be a serious issue.
“This past week, as part of the Second District Beautification Project, our Clean-Up Crew collected over 3,000 pounds of debris and bulky items, including mattresses, furniture, charcoal, and other illegally dumped materials near an encampment at Success Avenue and Imperial in our unincorporated Willowbrook community,” wrote Mitchell in her weekly newsletter.
“No street in our communities should be used as a dumping ground—especially in areas near encampments, where we are actively working to connect people with the services and support they need to obtain housing.”
Mitchell noted that, with the increase in illegal dumping, there is also greater concern about attracting rodents that can spread disease. There have been recent cases of flea-borne typhus in our Willowbrook community.
Residents in unincorporated communities can report illegal dumping to the LA County Public Works Department by using TheWorks App. Download it at dpw.lacounty.gov/theworks or call the County’s Clean LA Hotline at 888-838-6746. Reporting illegal dumping helps ensure that clean-ups in high-impact areas occur more frequently.
For more information and guidance on flea borne typhus, please visit: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/diseases/Typhus/Index.htm.
Lancaster Launches Drone as First Responder to Strengthen Public Safety
The City of Lancaster and the Lancaster Police Department (LPD) launched a new Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program last week, an advanced public safety initiative designed to improve emergency response times, enhance situational awareness, and support safer outcomes for both officers and residents.
The program uses drones staged in secure pods at strategic locations throughout the City, enabling immediate deployment to active calls for service. In many cases, drones arrive before patrol officers, providing real-time aerial visuals that help officers assess situations quickly and make informed decisions from the outset.
“This program is about using smart technology to protect people,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “By getting critical information to our officers faster, we can respond more effectively, reduce unnecessary risk, and improve outcomes for everyone involved. Lancaster continues to lead by adopting innovations that strengthen public safety while respecting our community.”
The Lancaster Police Department emphasized that the DFR program is designed for responsible and limited use. DFR drones are deployed only in response to active critical law enforcement incidents or calls for service and are not used for continuous or general surveillance. All operations are conducted under Federal Aviation Administration waivers, with flights human-piloted by trained LPD personnel and monitored with controlled launches and manual oversight. While some automation supports rapid deployment, every flight is actively supervised.
Lancaster’s DFR program is already gaining attention statewide. Since its launch, the Lancaster Police Department has been contacted by multiple law enforcement agencies interested in replicating the program, citing its operational effectiveness and cost-efficient design.
For more information about the Lancaster Police Department and its public safety initiatives, visit www.cityoflancasterca.gov/lpd.
Archuleta Legislation Gives Parole Officers More Tools in Emergency Situations
State Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Brea, Downey, Pico Rivera, Whittier, Montebello, La Mirada, Norwalk) last week introduced The Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act (Senate Bill 962) to enhance safety and protection for rank-and-file parole officers by authorizing the installation of blue emergency response lights on their vehicles.
The measure was introduced in response to the tragic death of Agent Joshua Byrd and builds on existing policy within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) that allows managerial-level officers to utilize such equipment. SB 962 aims to extend similar protections to the rank-and-file parole officers who are most often on the front lines of potentially dangerous situations.
Byrd, a rank-and-file parole officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 17, 2025. He was shot by a parolee who became agitated during a visit to an Oakland parole office. Immediately after shots were fired, the parole office was locked down; this lockdown resulted in the requested ambulance being unable to enter the scene by providing transportation to Agent Byrd.
Moreover, the parole office vehicles were not equipped with vehicle recognition lights or sirens, preventing Agent Byrd’s colleagues from being able to quickly transport him to the ambulance’s staging or the hospital itself.
“My hope with SB 962 is to prevent such a loss from ever occurring again. I have worked with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association on this project for several years, and I am confident that this is the year we will get it over the finish line,” said Archuleta.
“Parole officers put their lives on the line every day in the interest of public safety. If blue lights are good enough for the managers and supervisors, why are they not good enough for the rank-and file?”
