Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted several raids in Pasadena, detaining individuals at a bus stop outside a Winchell's Donut House near James Madison Elementary School, as well as carrying out other operations throughout the city, sparking a vigil and prompting outcry from community members and officials, based on footage and reports that emerged Wednesday. FOX LA shared a video showing six people being detained, while residents described the bus stop as a common gathering place for workers starting their day.
According to another video which was obtained by ABC7, community members began documenting the raids by taking photos of license plates on unmarked cars, and at one point, an agent reportedly brandished his weapon at a red light on Orange Grove Boulevard, as anger and fear simmer to a boil in a community already reeling from recent adversities such as the Eaton Fire yet in the wake of these arrests, the solidarity of the community is evident, even as some from a crowd of approximately 150 people are grappling with the brewing storm of federal enforcement upon their daily lives.
Pasadena's NAACP President Brandon Lamar, in a statement provided to ABC7, expressed dismay over the demographic makeup of individuals stopped by ICE, including seniors, and the impact of the agency's presence on the behavior of citizens and noncitizens alike, asserting that "we have seen time and time again that ICE is going to people with IDs and without IDs and so no matter if you're a citizen or not a citizen you're being stopped, you're being harassed, you're being terrorized." Numerous local leaders have denounced the ICE raids, including Rep. Judy Chu, who, as reported by FOX LA, experienced firsthand denial of access when attempting to visit the Metropolitan Detention Center, a facility holding immigrant detainees.
In a public statement, the City of Pasadena reiterated that neither local law enforcement nor the city itself takes part in enforcing federal civil immigration laws, a sentiment captured in a social media post actively investigating the reports of ICE activities, linked here: City of Pasadena X Post.
The City of Pasadena is aware of multiple reports regarding enforcement activity at various locations in the city this morning. We are actively investigating social media posts, photos, and videos to gain a better understanding of the situation.
— City of Pasadena (@PasadenaGov) June 18, 2025
We want to be clear: Neither the… pic.twitter.com/NdFrNHGaXV
