'Chaos And Brutality On Our Streets.' LA County Mayor Asks Residents To Protect Each Other Amid ICE Blitz

LONG BEACH, CA — The mayor of Long Beach took to social media to condemn recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, calling federal agents’ actions “unacceptable” and demanding they leave the city.

In a Facebook post, Mayor Rex Richardson accused federal agents of "violently" ambushing a gardener working outside Polly's Pies on Atlantic Avenue on Thursday.

The gardener, who has worked as a contractor for years, “was chased down and brutalized here in this restaurant in front of guests, in front of visitors,” Richardson said in a video.

“It's a sad day in America when you can't simply go to work, and where a resident can't simply go to breakfast in their community,” Richardson said. “This was a traumatic incident, and it was dehumanizing, and it's absolutely unacceptable in our community.”

In an emailed statement to Patch, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, “U.S. Border Patrol conducted immigration enforcement operations in Long Beach” on Thursday, adding that six people illegally in the country from Mexico were arrested.

“Their criminal histories included lascivious acts with a child under 14, driving without a license, and illegal re-entry,” the spokesperson said. “These criminals will remain in ICE custody pending removal."

The incident involving the gardener was“ just one of many reports of ICE” the city received Thursday, according to Richardson.

“Chaos and brutality on our streets like this is unacceptable,” Richardson said. “Workers in our city deserve a chance to make an honest living.”

Richardson called on residents to support one another as “targeted and inhumane enforcement actions like these seem to escalate.”

“We must look out for one another. If you see something, safely and smartly take action,” Richardson said. “Ask questions, record from a safe distance, document, use your First Amendment rights to support your fellow neighbors in need.”

Richardson concluded his video by demanding ICE leave the city.

“ICE does not belong here, and these acts of dehumanizing chaos and brutality on our community need to stop,” he said.

Supervisor Janice Hahn echoed the mayor's sentiments in a statement Thursday.

“ICE is continuing to terrorize our communities, and they hit Long Beach hard today,” Hahn said.

According to Hahn, “at least nine people were detained by masked ICE agents at workplaces” across the city on Thursday.

“(ICE Agents) are not communicating with local law enforcement, and we know they are not targeting violent criminals,” she said. “They are targeting people based on the color of their skin, or their accent, or the place that they work.”

Hahn went on to accuse ICE agents of violating “residents’ rights every day they remain on our streets,” adding that they are “they are creating chaos and spreading fear in our immigrant community, and they need to leave.”

Hahn said she plans to “unveil an ordinance barring all law enforcement, including ICE from concealing their identities” on Friday.

“This is how an authoritarian’s secret police operate – not legitimate law enforcement in a democracy,” Hahn said.