“Immigrant Protection” March Will Take to Pasadena Streets Today

Activist organizations said they expect to be joined by hundreds of supporters and as many as three candidates for the upcoming City Councilmember race at a “March for Immigrant Protection” on Monday afternoon in Pasadena.

The groups said they plan a “strong show of unity to protect our local immigrant community against the Trump administration’s intended mass deportations.”

District 5 incumbent Councilmember Victor Gordo and candidates Krystal Lopez-Padley and Aida Morales are scheduled to join the marchers, an announcement issued Sunday jointly by the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice and Pasadenans for Progress said.

The marchers plan to meet at 4 p.m. Monday at the Pasadena Job Center at 500 N. Lake and march to City Hall to urge the Pasadena City Council to adopt a strong immigrant-protection policing policy and to keep the Pasadena Police Department disentangled from ICE or any other federal immigration agencies, the groups’ statement said.

At City Hall, many marchers will plan to make statements to the City Council during the public comment period shortly after the public portion of the meeting opens at 6:30 p.m.

Pasadena has not technically declared itself a “sanctuary city,” a loosely defined term which denotes a city which does not permit police or municipal employees to inquire about one’s immigration status and is non-cooperative with federal efforts which are strictly immigration enforcement in nature.

City Manager Steve Mermell recently said he would, in effect, void a reimbursement agreement between the Pasadena Police Dept. and Immigration and Customs Enforcement because it mandates that to “the maximum extent possible, the Pasadena Police Department shall assign dedicated officers to any investigation or joint operation.”

Mermell said the City Council is currently revising immigration policies and until the stance is clarified it would be inappropriate for him to authorize the agreement.

At a City Council meeting in December, Mermell read aloud a Council resolution adopted in 2013 which welcomed immigrants and praised their contributions, urged federal authorities to adopt compassionate immigration laws, and went on record as opposing any mandate to the City to enforce federal immigration laws.

Following that reaffirmation, both Councilmembers Victor Gordo and Steve Madison said they have asked Mayor Terry Tornek to consider agendizing a complete discussion how the City of Pasadena should respond if the Trump administration clamps down on local governments to enforce federal immigration laws.

“There is significant concern among people in Pasadena regarding the potential impact to families now that Donald Trump has been elected President,” said District 5 Councilmember Victor Gordo.