This past year, we saw the unfolding of a military grade federal immigration enforcement agenda begin on June 6, 2025, in Los Angeles, targeting the Fashion District in Downtown LA, spreading throughout Southern California to wage unprecedented attacks on immigrants and U.S. Citizens. Since then, DHS has continued to unleash violence and terror in our communities which have yielded over 10,000 people arrested and detained in the greater Los Angeles area alone. According to the American Immigration Council, there are currently over 73,000 individuals in Immigration Detention in the United States, marking a 40% increase since the beginning of Trump's second term. Additionally, over 170 U.S. Citizens have been arrested and detained. In recent months, we have also seen several individuals, both U.S. Citizens and immigrants, die at the hands of DHS, ICE, CBP, and many other federal agencies who have continued to operate with impunity in places like Chicago, Minnesota, Portland, and Seattle.
Not only has our community been the target of such cruelty and violence, but has also had to endure the dual crisis of unprecedented wild fires and fallen victim to mass destruction caused by the Eaton and Palisades fires. The Eaton fire was one of the most deadliest and destructive wild fires in history destroying over 9,000 structures and leading to mass displacement and job loss for many low-income and vulnerable residents. Despite all the violence, terror, cruelty, and family separation, with these dual crisis, immigrants continue to thrive and contribute to California’s social, political, and economic fabric. Now more than ever, the resiliency, grit, and ability to thrive is evident among our immigrant community and can only be possible in a state like California, which must continue to make solid investments in our communities and continue the work to integrate immigrants into all facets of California. When our immigrant community thrives, we all thrive.