The city of Pasadena canceled park programming Saturday after reports of federal immigration enforcement activity in that city.
“The city of Pasadena is cancelling programming, including swim lessons and other programs at Villa Parke, Robinson Park and Victory Park today, Saturday, June 21, out of an abundance of caution after seeing social media posts of what appears to be federal enforcement activity at Villa Parke this morning and the potential escalation of conflict that unannounced federal enforcement activity causes,” city officials said in a statement on X at 8:50 a.m. Saturday.
Activists planned an “emergency vigil” at the park at 5 p.m. Saturday to condemn the raids.
“The administration’s cruelty strikes again, tearing people from their lives and leaving their families terrified and without answers. The very places where people work, live, and contribute to this city have become scenes of chaos and confusion,” said Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
“Those taken were not criminals — they were neighbors, workers, caretakers. Immigrants who rebuilt our homes, cleaned our streets, cared for our children, and stood with us after the wildfires. They risked their health and lives for the community then — and they continue to serve it now,” the statement continued.
Pasadena was also the site of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on Wednesday, when at least six people were detained, according to multiple media reports.
According to witness accounts and immigration advocates, one of those raids happened around 6 a.m. Wednesday near a shopping center, with two men apparently arrested at a bus stop at Los Robles and Orange Grove.
Lisa Derderian, a spokeswoman for the city of Pasadena, told City News Service that, “We are aware of several locations of enforcement activity in Pasadena this morning. We’re reviewing social media posts, photos and video to see if we can get further clarification of who they are.”
Derderian’s comments came after Metro closed the Memorial Park Station “due to police activity” on Wednesday morning. The station later reopened.
Saturday’s Pasadena raids came one day after Maywood and Bell became the latest Los Angeles County cities where protests against the Trump administration’s enforcement of immigration law have been met with violence.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a statement on social media Friday saying, “Today in Bell and Maywood, CA, Border Patrol vehicles were violently targeted during lawful operations.
“On Atlantic Blvd, one vehicle was rammed and had its tires slashed. On Slauson Ave, a civilian struck a federal vehicle, totaling it. The driver was arrested for suspicion of vehicular assault as a mob formed and slashed additional tires,” the statement said.
“LAPD, LAFD, OFO teams, and Border Patrol Special Operations responded and restored order. One suspect is in custody and will be presented to U.S. Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution.”
Maywood is patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Bell has its own police department. Neither is under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles police or fire departments.
Federal agents used chemical irritants or smoke bombs against a small group of protesters in Maywood following reports of a federal immigration enforcement operation, causing the crowd to disperse rapidly amid the chaos, with many shouting in defiance.
Tensions escalated after chemical irritants and smoke devices were deployed. At one point, a protester was seen kicking a canister back toward federal agents, ABC7 reported.
Multiple SUVs, suspected to be driven by federal agents, halted on Slauson Avenue near Alamao Avenue, approximately one block from the site of the chemical agents’ deployment.
Minutes earlier, a protest on Atlantic Avenue in Bell escalated, according to ABC7. Approximately 100 people gathered following an immigration operation in the area. Video footage captured individuals throwing rocks and bottles at passing vehicles.
The agency responsible for the immigration operation is unclear, as the vehicles were unmarked, and the officers did not wear identifiable uniforms.
Also Friday, Vice President JD Vance and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass sparred verbally, with Vance claiming there were “rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor” — claims that Bass later labeled “outright lies” and “utter nonsense.”
“You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law, and they had rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor, making it harder to do their job,” Vance said during remarks at a federal facility, flanked by representatives of the FBI, the District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Marines and various other federal officials.
At one point, Vance described the atmosphere in Los Angeles as “open season on federal officers.”
“That is disgraceful, and it is why the president has responded so forcefully,” said Vance.
At her City Hall news conference, Bass said “Today, the vice president of the United States spent three or four hours in L.A. before holding a press conference and spewing lies and utter nonsense in an attempt to provoke division and conflict in our city.
“This is consistent with the provocation from Washington that began two weeks ago when our city was calm and millions of Angelenos were going about working and contributing to our city. The provocation has resulted in lives disrupted, terror and fear spread throughout our city.”
The Trump administration has criticized Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom for so-called “sanctuary” policies and accused them of hampering federal efforts to enforce immigration laws and arrest people in the country without legal permission.
The Los Angeles Police Department was bracing for more protests Saturday in the downtown area.
“We are expecting several demonstrations today in the Civic Center and Pershing Square areas,” the LAPD’s Central Division said in a statement Saturday morning.
“Also, it’s National Skateboarding Day. We will have some skateboarders coming through DTLA today with some awesome talent. All we ask is that you please respect our businesses and (residents).”
A major demonstration was scheduled for 1 p.m. at Pershing Square, with organizers calling for “No War on Iran,” “No War on Immigrants,” and “No War on Palestine.”