Statement from the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) standing in solidarity with Immigrant Communities and Justice

Cities such as Los Angeles, Paramount, and our peaceful Inland Valley neighborhoods deserve to be safe havens for all residents, not battlegrounds for militarized aggression. The chaos currently engulfing our communities is a direct result of an unjust militarization intended to instigate fear and division among us. The violence inflicted by ICE disrupts the lives of hardworking individuals striving to live, work, and thrive in their own communities. This must end—enough is enough!

What we are witnessing is a blatant breach of state sovereignty, infused with authoritarianism that violates the fundamental principles of due process entrenched in the U.S. Constitution. The world is paying attention to the events unfolding in Los Angeles, and we must collectively resist these actions that jeopardize our most vulnerable and innocent. Raids targeting workplaces, schools, courts, and homes deny our community members their rights to dignity, respect, and due process. These are resilient individuals who contribute to the very fabric of our society, and they deserve better.

The tactics employed to instill fear, undermine education and economic justice, and facilitate these kidnappings in our peaceful communities are reprehensible. We will not stand idly by as these fascist tactics aim to silence us. Our immigrant communities are integral to the social fabric of this nation; targeting them means tearing apart our schools, hospitals, places of worship, small businesses, and economic mobility. We are not the violent ones—we are simply striving to survive and support our families.

The decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines is not only a misuse of our resources but also an act of bullying that must be condemned. This is a federal overreach that constitutes acts of terror and violence against our community.

We stand resolutely in solidarity with our immigrant communities. We will continue to advocate for a better quality of life for all because immigrant communities are, unequivocally, environmental justice communities. Let us be clear: we will be on the right side of history. Together, we are stronger than ever and will not be silenced by fear.