Long Beach Transit Told Workers To Comply With ICE. The Mayor Wants To Prevent That

LONG BEACH, CA — Long Beach's Mayor is calling for the city's transit agency to take action in rebuilding public trust following the release of an internal memo telling workers not to interfere with ICE agents conducting operations on public buses or other workplaces.

The memo, according to the Signal Tribune, was passed out in June and asked workers to call their department supervisors if ICE agents boarded a bus or entered worksites such as the Long Beach Transit yards. It also lists additional resources, such as mental health services available to employees.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson stated in a social media post on Wednesday morning that the internal memo distributed to transit workers in June has caused "fear, confusion and alarm" in the community, especially amongst immigrant riders and frontline employees.

"That's unacceptable," Richardson said, adding that public transit has always played a pivotal role in the fight for civil rights. "The legacy must continue."

In a letter addressed to Long Beach Transit on Tuesday, Richardson acknowledged that the agency had signed onto the Long Beach Values Act, an ordinance established in 2018 and strengthened earlier this year, that prevents the disclosure of sensitive information and the enforcement of federal immigration law.

But given the issues caused by the memo, he felt the agency had to take action to let the public know that they are safe riding Long Beach Transit services.

In the letter, Richardson requested that the agency take action in rebuilding public trust by doing the following:

• Clarify what protocols LBT staff should follow if federal law or immigrant enforcement agents enter a public bus (e.g., requesting appropriate identification or court orders), consistent with state and federal law, the Long Beach Values Act, and relevant guidance from the American Civil Liberties Union
• Provide updated, clear, and comprehensive protocols consistent with the Long Beach Values Act and state and federal law, that inform all LBT agency staff on what to do if federal law or immigrant enforcement agents enter LBT workplace locations
• Post "know your rights" info on buses and major stops in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.
• Distribute translated "know your rights" cards to riders.

"Long Beach does not participate in civil immigrant enforcement. Long Beach stands for dignity, safety and inclusion for all," Richardson said. "Fear has no place no place on our transit system."

Órale, a Long Beach non-profit aimed at ending the criminalization of immigrants while securing protections and opportunities in underserved communities, has been documenting local raids by federal agents on its social media.

The organization said online that it's confirmed at least two raids in the Long Beach area over the last two days and ICE activity in neighboring Lakewood. At least one person was taken by federal agents each day, the nonprofit posted online.