Mayor’s Update July 2025: Bell Gardens joins immigration lawsuit
Dear Bell Gardens neighbors,
Let me start by saying this: the fear we’re feeling is real. And as your mayor, I refuse to stay silent.
We are witnessing a deliberate ramping up of federal immigration enforcement that continues to violate the rights of our residents, divide families, and intimidate entire neighborhoods. It’s not just one or two raids. This is targeted, coordinated, and it’s hurting families across our region. But I want you to know this: Bell Gardens is fighting back.
On July 16, our Bell Gardens City Council voted to join a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions. I’m proud to share that the motion passed, and we are now part of a coalition that includes Los Angeles, Culver City, Pico Rivera, Pasadena, and others.
These raids are violating our rights: due process, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, and the right of states to run their own judicial systems without interference. As L.A. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto put it: "These unconstitutional roundups cannot be the new normal." As a city, we agree.
We also passed a formal resolution that lays out where we stand as a city. We made it clear: federal agents need to stop showing up in plain clothes, stop using unmarked vehicles, and stop targeting people based on how they look, dress, or speak. Our Police Department does not enforce federal immigration law. And they won’t. That’s the law in California, and that’s the position of this Council. The resolution also directs our staff to keep updating our immigration webpage with verified resources, and to send this resolution to our congressional representatives, so there's no question about where Bell Gardens stands.
We’ve also filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get real answers from ICE and Border Patrol, including how many people have been taken from Bell Gardens, by whom, and under what authority. This is about getting the facts. If the federal government won’t tell us what’s happening in our own city, we’ll keep pressing until they do.
We’re exploring every legal option we have.
We’re looking at our contract with Flock Safety—the license plate camera system in our city. I understand how these cameras can help. My own car was stolen a few years ago, and I still think about it. But I also understand how this kind of surveillance can be weaponized against our undocumented neighbors. We’ve confirmed that Bell Gardens PD isn’t sharing this data with ICE but over 350 other agencies have technical access to the system. That’s not something we can ignore.
We’re also weighing the possibility of an eviction moratorium, especially because so many of our residents are losing work (or are too afraid to go to work) due to these raids. People shouldn’t be forced out of their homes while this is happening.
Key Resources:
CHIRLA’s Immigrant Assistance Line: (888) 624-4752
CAIR Coalition Deportation Defense
Bell Gardens Immigration Resource Hub
Follow the City of Bell Gardens on Facebook and Instagram
Showing Up for Each Other
Even with everything happening, our city is still showing up for one another. On July 26, we hosted a school supply giveaway and handed out over 240 backpacks to local families. On July 30, we held a town hall where I heard directly from residents about the struggles they’re facing. We’ve been out there with Know Your Rights workshops, continuing partnerships with the Mexican Consulate, and delivering food, diapers, and essentials to those who feel unsafe leaving home.
And next week, we’re bringing back some joy:
Tuesday, August 5: Join us for National Night Out at Veterans Park (5 to 9 p.m.), with live music by the Selena tribute band Karol Posadas and Anything for Latinas. We’ll have raffles, exhibits, a kids’ zone, resources, and more.
Thursday, August 7: Come out for our final Summer Nights Movie, also at Vets, showing Despicable Me 4 at 8 p.m. Family activities start at 7 p.m. Bring a blanket, a chair, and your people. We’ll take care of the rest.
We’re in a tough moment right now, but I believe in this community. I see your strength, your courage, and your heart every single day.
Jorgel Chavez
Mayor, City of Bell Gardens
