After another wave of immigration raids rattled Los Angeles on Thursday, June 19, with the latest actions reported at Home Depot stores in Hollywood and San Fernando, a car wash in Glendale, and a Lowe’s store in Pacoima.
Those actions followed raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Pasadena on Wednesday and in Pico Rivera on Tuesday.
The arrests of street vendors, day laborers, and immigrants in general has caused plenty of criticism from local elected officials, and a sense of fear in communities across the Southland.
Some groups are also responding with kindness.
The California Community Foundation said it will provide grants through its L.A. Neighbors Support Fund, helping nonprofits assisting impacted migrant communities to “quickly scale up” their support for communities in need.
“This is not about the politics of the recent events, but their effect on people who have lost a loved one, their source of income, and are terrified,” said Miguel Santana, president and CEO of the foundation.
“When stores, schools and streets empty out, vibrant neighborhoods become ghost towns,” Santana added. “Fear sets off a cycle of despair. This is about Angelenos helping Angelenos.”
GoFundMe for legal funds
Angelenos have indeed been helping Angelenos.
Since the ICE raids began two weeks ago, families of those detained have turned to GoFundMe for help. The website does not reveal trends or statistics, but a simple review of the site shows an increasing number of accounts set up in recent days to raise funds for this purpose
Over $347,000 of a $500,000 goal had already been raised for the families of 14 immigrants detained by ICE at the Ambiance warehouse in Downtown LA—one of the first actions that detonated multiple days of protests in Los Angeles.
“Urgent Aid for LA Families of 14 Detained by ICE” reads the title of the account that has received some 7,000 donations.
In a June 17 message posted, organizer Jennifer Alejo of the “Lucha Zapoteca Family and Team” thanked everyone for the support.
“Tomas, Juan, Jose, Jacob, Miguel, Oscar, Uriel, Lazaro, Fernando, Filemon, Ismael, Reynaldo and Jorge Luis are invigorated by you all; the thousands of community supporters who have contributed to the sustenance of their families and who have their back.”
Alejo added that ICE did not allow legal teams to access Adelanto facility for eight days but “Through persistence and constant pressure, we were able to ensure legal visits happened this past weekend and families are waiting for bond hearings to be scheduled. So far it’s looking like their hearings will be scheduled out through July and August. We are working closely with the legal team and will be activating community support in the lead up to their upcoming court fights.”
Another account created on June 18 for sought to raise money to pay the legal funds for Francisco Urizar, a dad detained by ICE in Pico Rivera.
Thanks to over 300 donations, the account had already raised more than $10,000 of the $14,000 goal.
“Today in Pico Rivera, my father, a hardworking man, was detained by ICE while simply doing his everyday deliveries (his job) to support his family. He is a kind-hearted, devoted dad who has always put his children first, showing up for them with love, strength, and unwavering care. What was supposed to be a regular workday turned into a nightmare for us his family. We are now facing uncertainty and fear. We are asking for your support to help cover legal fees, basic living expenses, and to bring him back home where he belongs — with his 2 girls who miss him dearly,” wrote his daughter, Nancy Urizar.
In Riverside, Julissa Martinez was also close to reaching the $9,000 goal to help reunite Felix Cruz with his family.
“On June 12, 2025, around 8 a.m. ICE agents took Felix at a gas station in Riverside. He was simply stopping to pay for gas and grab a quick snack before heading to his gardening job a day that began just like any other.
“Felix is not a criminal; he is a devoted father to a beautiful 9-year-old girl, a loving husband to his wife Mary, and a cherished family member. When Mary received the call that morning, her world was shattered. Our family is heartbroken and incomplete without him.
“Felix came to this country for the same reason so many do: to build a better life for himself and his loved ones. He is a hardworking, kind, and gentle man—a father, an uncle, a sibling, and most importantly, a human being who deserves dignity and compassion.
“Your support is urgently needed. Every donation will go to and help Mary and their daughter hire an immigration attorney to fight for Felix’s return and recover his truck. Help brings us closer to reuniting our family,” the account message reads.
Detainees sent all over the country
This week, a group of elected officials visited the Adelanto Detention Facility with other officials to check on detainees, and revealed that many of them are being sent to different parts of the country.
“I am deeply concerned that many of these detainees are being sent to detention facilities across the country without any connections to legal services, family or friends, or logical reasons for that matter,” wrote Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) on a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons. “These are hardworking people who are trying to live out their own American Dream while abiding by our laws and immigration court hearing proceedings – only to be detained and sent to facilities across the country.”
RESOURCES
ICE Inmate Locator
https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search
CHIRLA’s Legal Assistance Hotline (888) 624-4752
