Cities Cancel 4th Of July Events Due To Immigration Raid Fears | EUROtoday

Multiple cities in Southern California have canceled or postponed Fourth of July celebrations over fears that ICE might goal giant public gatherings.

Canceled or postponed occasions have been reported in cities together with Los Angeles, Huntington Park, Cudahy, Bell Gardens and Whittier after native officers mentioned residents raised issues.

According to The New York Times, about 2,000 immigrants within the Los Angeles space have been arrested for the reason that starting of June, when a sequence of immigration raids sparked protests and drew a heavy regulation enforcement response and navy deployment. Since then, arrests have been reported at taco vehicles, worksites and even immigration court docket — prompting some Latino residents to keep away from going out in public, whether or not they have authorized standing or not.

Huntington Park, California, has put a 30-day pause on summer time occasions due to “growing disruptions” by ICE exercise, in accordance with a reported metropolis assertion.

“Reports of unmarked vehicles and unidentified federal agents have created widespread anxiety, particularly among immigrant and mixed-status families,” the assertion 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 introduced on social media that its Independence Day Celebration will likely be postponed “due to recent events and concerns regarding the safety of our residents.” The announcement comes after town’s vice mayor posted a now-deleted TikTookay calling on gang members to defend their territory amid ICE raids. She mentioned later that the FBI visited her house.

The metropolis of Bell Gardens introduced on Instagram that “out of an abundance of caution regarding concerns for resident safety over federal immigration enforcement activities,” town was canceling occasions between final week and July 10.

Fourth of July occasions within the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and northeast Los Angeles have been postponed to August because of immigration raids, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado’s workplace introduced.

Jurado, who represents District 14, has spoken out towards the ICE raids on social media.

Gloria Molina Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles introduced on its web site that due to “recent events affecting a portion of Downtown L.A. and the ongoing circumstances impacting the region,” its summer time block celebration could be postponed till later in the summertime.

The mayor of town of Whittier, a metropolis in Los Angeles County, mentioned in a information launch that town is canceling its Fourth of July Freedom Walk after residents expressed their issues.

“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 mentioned in a information launch.

It’s unclear what the suggestions was. Reps from town didn’t reply to a request for remark.

The ICE raids have left worry and nervousness in lots of Latinos dwelling within the U.S. Immigrants — documented and undocumented — have mentioned they don’t go away their properties as a result of they’re afraid of getting swept up in a raid.

Hector Mata, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen, advised The New York Times that he avoids taking the bus.

“I’m brown and that’s all they need,” Mata mentioned about federal brokers.

Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores has been outspoken towards 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 mentioned, in accordance with 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.”