ONE BIG THING: ICE SURGE IN LA
What Happened
We’ve seen a notable uptick in activity over the past week both in our district, and across the city. Confirmed activity in Hollywood, East Hollywood, Koreatown, and beyond is impacting longtime residents, workers, and families across our communities.
This is part of a coordinated surge in ICE enforcement in California ahead of the midterm elections. It also comes as a new UCLA Study shows that the Trump administration has deported 15,000 people in Southern California since 2025.
Why it Matters
Masked men are ripping people out of their cars in broad daylight. Families are being torn apart. Neighbors are afraid to go to work, take their kids to school, and go about their daily lives.
It’s so easy for this issue to fade into the background when we’re not directly confronted with it because it’s so overwhelming and it’s so easy to feel powerless – but fascist governments rely on an apathetic opposition.
But we’re not powerless. LA is home to millions of immigrants and a powerful network of community organizations that have spent years building the relationships, resources, and rapid response systems we can lean on right now. We know how to show up for each other. Now is the time to put that power to work.
What’s Next?
We need to be ready to support our neighbors for as long as this continues, and reports indicate this surge could last at least 45 days, which would extend through the end of November.
Our office is working with community organizations and impacted residents to help connect families with food distribution, rental assistance, and legal support wherever possible.
But we can’t get help to people if we don’t know who needs it. That’s why we need more people to join rapid response networks, where trained volunteers can help document ICE activity and connect affected families with critical resources.
Sign up at bit.ly/CD13RRN to get updates on upcoming trainings and learn how to join the Rapid Response Network. The more of us who are ready to respond, the better we can protect and support our neighbors.
Three More Quick Hits
National Coming Out Day 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
For National Coming Out Day on Sunday, October 11, we partnered with BabyGay at the historic Black Cat in Silver Lake to help launch the Welcome Wagon — a coming out kit designed to make sure people starting their coming out journey have the resources and support they need.
The Welcome Wagon includes letters of support, helpful resources, fun swag, and a free year of mental health support from Open Space Therapy Collective. Together, volunteers and community partners assembled the first 100 kits, which are already being sent to people across the country as a reminder to someone that they’re loved, and they’re not alone.
Film Representation Summit 🎥
This Thursday, nearly 200 filmmakers, government agencies, and elected officials gathered at Barnsdall Art Park for the first-ever Film Representation Summit, hosted by the Multicultural Filmmakers Coalition. The coalition includes the NAACP, CAPE, NHMC, NALIP, Chicano Hollywood, Latino Filmmakers Network, and more!
The all-day summit gave Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, and Pacific Islander filmmakers the chance to speak directly with elected leaders about protecting local film and TV jobs and increasing representation on screen and behind the camera. As we work to bring production back to Hollywood, our community deserves a real say in its future, including access to the jobs and opportunities that will help our local creative economy grow.
Volunteers Needed: Movie Night in Glassell Park! 🎬
We’re looking for volunteers to help make our upcoming Movie Night at Juntos Family Park a great night for the neighborhood! Join us Friday, October 23, for a free screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas, games, a food distribution, and a resource fair alongside El Centro del Pueblo and Manos Que Sobreviven.
Volunteers will help with setup, welcome attendees, support activities, and clean up after the event. Food will be provided, and friends and family are welcome to join! Sign up for one shift or both.
📍 Juntos Family Park, 3135 Drew St., Los Angeles
📅 Friday, October 23
🕑 Setup: 2–5 PM | Cleanup: 7–9 PM
Save the Date – Organizing & Civic Engagement
Saturday, October 24th – Take Back Your Health Day(FREE local organizations, resources, and services)
Save the Date – Community Events
Wednesday, October 21st – Life on Lens: They Live (FREE screening of They Live hosted by CD13)
Friday, October 23rd - Movie Night at Juntos Park(FREE community resources and screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas)
CD13 Pet of the Week
Meet Martin, our pet of the week!
This just in – patterns are BACK IN! Look at those spots, eyes, color; this boy definitely got the look down. Martin’s looks are not the only thing to love, this sweet boy is also incredibly loving and loyal.
If you or anyone you know are looking to adopt please email ani.foster@lacity.org today!
