Community Leaders Demand Whittier City Council Action on Immigration Rights and Due Process Protections

August 11, 2025

Press Conference: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM 

Location: Whittier City Hall Steps, 13230 Penn St.,Whittier, CA 90602

Contact: Brenda Castillo, 323-896-7995, bcastillo@nhmc.org 

WHITTIER, CA – Community advocates, legal experts, and residents will hold a press conference to call on the Whittier City Council to take immediate action to protect residents' constitutional rights and due process through a comprehensive ordinance addressing unlawful kidnappings conducted by ICE and federal agents. The ordinance specifically calls on federal agents to unmask and identify themselves when conducting ICE raids in the city of Whittier.

Speakers at the Press Conference include the following:

• Mary Ann Pacheco, Whittier City Council Member, District 1
• Martha Escutia, former California State Senator
• Polo Morales, City of Whittier Resident, District 4
• Gabriel Montoya
• More Elected Officials to be confirmed

Media Availability: Speakers will be available for interviews following the press conference.

With the increase of $170 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, including $75 billion more for ICE, protecting citizens and immigrants has become a critical priority for Whittier residents. On July 30, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a groundbreaking ordinance covering unincorporated areas of the County—but this protection does not extend to the City of Whittier itself, leaving residents vulnerable to enforcement actions that violate their constitutional rights.

“At a time when the federal government ignores court rulings and rights afforded to ALL of us through the United States Constitution, inaction by Mayor Joe Vinatieri and the Whittier City Council is at best complacency and at its worst, consent,” said Polo Morales, resident of Whittier’s District 4.

Local small businesses have borne the devastating impact of aggressive ICE enforcement as residents remain home, miss work, and avoid public spaces out of fear. Sales and consumer spending have plummeted significantly—a clear indication that Whittier's economic vitality depends on immigrant labor and purchasing power. The current climate of fear is not only harming families but threatening the economic foundation of our community.

The full list of demands is as follows:   

• Enact the ordinance presented by Council Member Pacheco, without watered down amendments, that requires agents to unmask and identify themselves while operating in the City of Whittier.
• Issue an amicus brief in support of Pedro Vasquez Perdomo v. Kristi Noem, 2:25- cv-05605, a class action lawsuit supported by other California cities and counties to halt roving raids that are conducted in a manner that violates the civil rights of all Whittier residents.
• Create a legal defense fund for Whittier residents who are victims of these unconstitutional immigration raids.
• Make a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request for the following information; the names of those taken by ICE/CBP within the City of Whittier, the number of individuals abducted by ICE/CBP in the City of Whittier, the names of individuals arrested without a warrant or in a manner that violated their Fourth Amendment Rights and the current condition and location of those who continue to be detained by the Department of Homeland Security.  

About Organize Whittier: Organize Whittier is a coalition of advocacy organizations within the City of Whittier.