Standing-room crowd attends Downey ICE Watch meeting
Federal immigration agents at Downey Memorial Christian Church on June 11, 2025. (Photo courtesy Tanya Lopez)
DOWNEY – On the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 25, Downey residents gathered at Downey Memorial Christian Church for a meeting hosted by Downey ICE Watch. The Fellowship Hall was overflowing as organizers directed attendees to sit in areas designated by the city’s council districts.
On Jan. 10, Downey resident Victor Correa and neighbors intervened when federal agents attempted to detain two landscapers who were legally working. Correa recorded the incident at Benares Street and Ryerson Avenue, prompting a community response that led to the agents releasing the men. A social media video of the encounter went viral.
Correa warmly welcomed the audience to the Downey ICE Watch meeting and explained why he felt it was necessary to speak out at that moment.
Correa and his family have taken a leadership role in organizing Downey ICE Watch. The effort is not a formal organization and has no budget, but rather operates as a community-based response and alert system intended to inform residents about ICE activity.
Councilmember Mario Trujillo also addressed the group, urging community members to remain calm and lead by example.
Senior Pastor Tanya Lopez described an incident that occurred Jan. 11 in the church parking lot. She said she and her husband, Pastor Al Lopez, responded after hearing vehicles screech into the lot. Masked men in unmarked vehicles had detained a man who was reportedly walking through the church parking lot. According to Lopez, the agents zip-tied the man and pushed him against a wall while refusing to identify themselves.
While Lopez filmed the incident and advised the man of his rights, she said an agent pointed a weapon at her. When she told them they did not have permission to be on church property, Lopez said one of the agents responded, “The whole country is our property.”
Lopez told attendees the issue goes beyond immigration enforcement.
“This is about human dignity,” Lopez said. “I use my voice and gifts when I can. So much is happening in our city.”
Religious News Service reported that a federal judge, F. Dennis Saylor of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, issued an order Feb. 23 barring federal immigration enforcement agents from raiding certain churches except in a “true emergency.” The order also bars agents from operating within 100 feet of churches, including their parking lots. It remains unclear whether the ruling applies nationwide.
The first guest speaker was Alfonso Morales, an immigration attorney with more than 20 years of experience whose nearest office is in Paramount. Morales said immigration reform is needed and outlined the rights of individuals and legal observers.
Morales said approximately 70% of those detained have no criminal record. He also said about 90% of detainees are held in privately operated, for-profit prisons or contracted local jails rather than government-run facilities. Morales said detainees typically do not have access to public defenders and often face limited access to bond or medical services.
The meeting also featured a joint presentation by Rosa Vasquez of Barrio Power and a representative from Siempre Unidos LA.
Vasquez, a former Social Innovation + Change Initiative fellow at Harvard, discussed the rights of individuals and legal observers.
Barrio Power is not incorporated and operates as a small community collective formed by a handful of women to provide mutual aid, education and information within local communities. Volunteers distributed whistles and “Know Your Rights” materials to attendees.
Vasquez said the name “Barrio Power” reflects a concept rooted in the Chicano Movement and refers to the long-term process of building political influence and self-determination in Latino neighborhoods to combat systemic oppression.
She also discussed the structure and scope of the Department of Homeland Security, noting it includes agencies such as Customs and Border Protection, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Enforcement.
Vasquez shared several statistics about immigration enforcement and detention and said the organization expects ICE operations to expand, including additional detention facilities and increased transfers of detainees from states with more immigrant protections.
Barrio Power offers free on-site ICE Watch training for groups of three or more and is hosting a free ICE Watch workshop via Zoom on March 13 at 3:30 p.m. More information is available at Linktree.com/barriopower.
Siempre Unidos LA is a community-powered nonprofit that supports immigrant families affected by ICE raids and deportations in Los Angeles. The organization provides food, emergency support, legal referrals and other assistance to vulnerable families.
Correa announced the next Downey ICE Watch meeting will be held Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Downey Memorial Christian Church, 8441 Florence Ave. The meeting will feature guest speakers from Siempre Unidos.