‘ICE out of Pico!’ - Pico Rivera community protests against anti-immigrant activity in the city

The Pico Rivera community peacefully demonstrated against immigration officials' activity in the city on Tuesday, June 17. This comes after multiple people were detained.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested a U.S. citizen identified as 20-year-old Adrian Andrew Martinez as he was defending a man against federal agents early in the day at the Pico Rivera Towne Center off of Washington Boulevard. As seen in a video circulating on social media, multiple immigration agents floored Martinez to the ground before forcing him into the back of an CBP vehicle after an agent grabbed him by the neck. 

Both marked and unmarked vehicles were at the scene. 

Community members tried to intervene before more federal agents appeared. Social media users expressed their concerns over agents cocking their assault rifles and pointing them at civilians. 

Martinez’s mother told NBC4 news that his family is currently trying to locate him and figure out where he is being held.

While there is no exact number on how many people were taken by immigration officials, a man identified as Francisco Urizar was detained in front of Food 4 Less off of Whittier Boulevard after delivering tortillas. Witnesses at the grocery store said a janitor who works there was also detained, per ABC 7 Los Angeles. 

A Pico Rivera resident named Edgardo G. received text messages from loved ones alerting him of the immigration raids around the city. 

He arrived in the city 12 years ago after becoming a permanent resident with the help of his son and started the process of becoming a U.S. citizen last month. He has been taking classes at the El Rancho Adult School, where he is taking a citizenship preparation class. 

Edgardo said in Spanish, “I couldn’t believe arriving here to feel something so ugly like what we’re feeling right now. I had a special concept about the United States, but not like this. I believed the United States was to make oneself, but it’s not, it’s the contrary. There’s fear walking in the streets.”

In a statement released and signed by Pico Rivera city manager Steve Carmona, the city urges residents to continue engaging with city services and seek support without fear while encouraging anyone in need of assistance or legal guidance to reach out to trusted local organizations that support immigrant rights. 

“We are increasingly concerned about the nature and tone of these recent actions. Reports of heightened enforcement tactics, warrantless stops and operations that appear to target specific communities raise serious concerns about proportionality, fairness and due process,” the statement said. 

“When enforcement efforts create fear or the appearance of profiling, they risk undermining the trust that is essential between residents and their local government. Pico Rivera remains firmly committed to protecting civil liberties, constitutional rights and the respectful treatment of all individuals under the law,” the statement continued. 

Community members have been keeping each other aware of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity via social media and other forms of communications, including posting updates on the Ring app. The posting of enforcement action, such as pictures and videos, helps spread the word and avoids panic based on false postings. This included a post circling about federal agent vehicles parked on the Ruben Salazar High School campus in the same morning. 

According to a statement released by El Rancho Unified School District superintendent Marco Villegas regarding federal agents parked at the school, “This morning, ICE vehicles were observed parking at the Salazar campus. District staff immediately implemented our protocols, made contact, informed the individuals that they are not permitted on school grounds and directed them off the property. The individuals complied, and the vehicles left the area.”

“We want to reassure our families that we remain fully committed to maintaining safe and supportive environments for all students. Our schools are places of learning, belonging and protection, and we will continue to uphold every student's right to feel safe at school,” the statement continued. 

Anthony Islas, a Pico Rivera resident of over 17 years, said he has raised concerns during a city board meeting about school gates being open and unlocked, leaving students vulnerable to attacks. He said it was shameful that ICE agents were able to park on the school campus on their own.

Islas was protesting, waving a large Mexican flag in front of the city hall before the large crowd of demonstrators arrived later in the day. 

“It’s very sad what the world came to today. It’s very sad that they’re kidnapping our people, that we’re being targeted and singled out. ICE isn’t welcome here; they don’t have a space in our community or with our people,” he said. 

Demonstrators, many of them with family and friends, arrived at city hall in the late afternoon and made their way to the corner of the Pico Rivera Towne Center on Washington and Rosemead Boulevards to protest immigration officials taking Adrian Andrew Martinez into custody and the detainment of other people. Both demonstration locations remained peaceful throughout the rest of the day and into the night. 

City Hall was full of music from both people passing by in cars and with speakers on the ground. Demonstrators danced together and made the area feel like a block party. 

The crowd unified together on the street with a flash dance of “Caballo Dorado” and chanted “ICE out of Pico!” before leaving the area around 9:05 p.m. 

Community members are encouraging people to keep posting ICE or CBP sightings on social media and to protest any future ICE activity in the city and surrounding areas.