By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News Fellow

Immigrant rights advocates are urging the Inglewood City Council to pass a local sanctuary ordinance aimed at blocking cooperation with federal agents ahead of international sporting events in the Los Angeles area.

Roughly 20 speakers addressed city officials at the June 9 city council meeting regarding the proposed “_,” a local ordinance backed by grassroots organizers such as Healing LA Together, the ING Fellowship and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-LA) seeking to establish sanctuary-style protections and shield immigrant residents from potential ICE enforcement.

The Los Angeles area is the stage for a number of upcoming sporting events, including the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympic Games.

Mayor James T. Butts and city council members did not formally address the requests during public comment.

Public pressure to shield immigrants from federal raids has intensified amid the ongoing World Cup, including games at SoFi Stadium.

Advocates say the influx of federal personnel for these events increases risks for undocumented residents. Activists noted that more than 1,000 residents have emailed the council demanding action.

The local mobilization comes amid reported immigration enforcement operations in the area, including a June 4 incident in which advocates said two people were detained by ICE agents in Inglewood.

Dr. Ezekiel Andrade, a District 2 primary care physician whose family has lived in Inglewood for more than 40 years, told the council that fear among immigrant families has reached unprecedented levels.

“People are afraid to go to work, they’re afraid to attend medical appointments, they’re afraid to seek services for themselves and for their children,” Andrade said, adding that the city must go beyond existing California state protections to take meaningful local action.

Community members said deportation fears are disrupting daily life and local labor sectors.

Gerson Navidad, an Inglewood resident who fled El Salvador alone nine years ago, said he was detained by ICE before reuniting with his mother in Inglewood.

He told officials that passing the ordinance would ease the daily terror felt by thousands of hardworking neighbors who fear being picked up by ICE while going to work or school.

Legal advocates at the meeting argued that existing state framework guidelines do not fully protect residents, making municipal ordinances necessary. Localities like Los Angeles, Huntington Park, Lynwood, and Cudahy have already passed similar measures.

According to advocates, the proposed ordinance would ensure city resources are not used to support federal immigration enforcement, restrict ICE access to non-public areas of city property, and limit when municipal employees or contractors can collect and share resident-sensitive information.

The act would also require the Inglewood Police Department to document any interaction with federal immigration authorities.

Ben O’Hara, a UCLA School of Law student and fellow with the Ahilan Arulanantham Center for Immigration Law and Policy, pointed to similar ordinances in Washington, D.C., and Maryland as successful blueprints.

O’Hara said such policies help prevent improper data sharing and buffer residents from federal enforcement tactics.

Student activists also detailed the personal and emotional toll of the ongoing enforcement actions.

Giselle, a Yale University student raised in Inglewood, described the severe anxiety her family experiences, stating her mother faces constant nightmares regarding family separation.

Representatives from the hospitality and labor sectors joined the call for protection. Frustration over the council’s perceived inaction and silence also mounted during the meeting.

Herminia Galvez, an Inglewood resident and CEO of Healing Los Angeles Together, joined others in criticizing city officials over a lack of communication, unity and urgency. Her organization started a rapid-response food delivery initiative for families who were losing breadwinners.

“We have emailed, called, and not once have we received a reply from none of you,” Galvez said. “We started seeing that our numbers were dropping as the people that would come to pick up food from us,” Galvez said. “The fear had caused people to stop coming.”

Paxcely Marquez, co-leader of LA Forward’s Immigrant Justice Working Group and a member of the Sanctuary Coalition, urged the Inglewood City Council to meet with allies to develop a pathway forward rather than waiting for another family to be torn apart.

“One family is more than enough to be impacted by these raids,” Marquez said. “And we need to prevent, not wait for the next one.”