Monterey Park Reaffirms Opposition to Unlawful Immigration Enforcement: Mayor Says City Will Not Be Intimidated or Silent
The City of Monterey Park, in Los Angeles County, California, issued a statement on November 10 reaffirming its commitment to protecting all members of the community regardless of immigration status, and making clear that federal immigration enforcement must respect the Constitution, uphold the law, and protect the fundamental rights of every person. The city said recent federal enforcement activity has created fear and uncertainty among residents, families, workers and business owners, and that it opposes enforcement practices that undermine constitutional rights and erode public trust.
"Monterey Park is a city of immigrants. Our families, workers, students, and small-business owners are the heart of this community, and they deserve to live without fear," Mayor Henry Lo said in the statement. "We will not be intimidated, and we will not be silent. The City Council stands with our residents and will continue to pursue every available legal avenue to challenge unwarranted and unlawful federal immigration enforcement. The federal government is not above the law, and constitutional rights do not disappear based on a person's immigration status."
The statement listed legal action the city has taken: on July 2, 2025, the City Council voted unanimously to authorize the City Attorney to take all necessary actions to intervene in Vasquez Perdomo v. Mullin (formerly Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem), a federal lawsuit challenging immigration enforcement practices in Southern California; on July 8, 2025, Monterey Park joined the City and County of Los Angeles and several other California cities in filing a motion to intervene. A subsequent federal court order in the case established safeguards against warrantless civil immigration arrests: federal agents must make and document an individualized determination that a person is likely to flee before a warrant can be obtained, and a person's suspected undocumented status, standing alone, cannot serve as sufficient justification. The city noted the order provides preliminary relief and the case remains ongoing.
The statement reaffirmed that Monterey Park police officers do not enforce federal immigration laws or participate in federal immigration enforcement operations; consistent with Senate Bill 54 (the California Values Act), City Council Resolution 2024-R96 and Police Department Policy 413, officers do not question individuals about their immigration status or hold federal immigration detainees in the city jail. Residents, the city said, should never hesitate to contact the Police Department for assistance, and immigration status will not be questioned.
The city also listed resources for residents: through its partnership with Chinatown Service Center, the city offers a Resource and Referral Center connecting residents and families with case management and family support, legal aid referrals, healthcare referrals and workers' rights information, at 626-293-8733. Individuals who witness potentially unlawful conduct by federal agents may submit information, photographs and video through the California Department of Justice reporting portal.
California Department of Justice reporting portal
(Source: City of Monterey Park)
Source: City of Monterey Park
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于加州洛杉矶县的 Monterey Park 市政中心（市政厅与警察局）。Nandaro 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: City of Monterey Park Civic Center (City Hall and Police Facility) in Los Angeles County, California. By Nandaro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
