In a surprising turn of events, several cities in California have reportedly called off their Fourth of July festivities, attributing their decision to the heightened activities of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This comes in the wake of President Donald Trump's pledge to carry out the most extensive deportation operation in the country's history, leading to an escalation in ICE's efforts to locate and detain illegal immigrants.
According to The Blaze, California, home to the largest population of illegal immigrants, has been a primary focus of the administration's immigration enforcement activities. This has triggered widespread protests and even destructive rioting in the previous month. Now, several cities in the state are reportedly blaming ICE for their decision to cancel Independence Day celebrations.
The city of Cudahy, nestled in southeastern Los Angeles, announced last Wednesday that it was "postponing" an Independence Day celebration scheduled for July 3 "due to recent events and concerns regarding the safety of our residents." The announcement did not explicitly mention ICE activities as the reason for the postponement. As of Tuesday, the event had not been rescheduled.
Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez faced calls to resign, including from the L.A. police union, after she appeared to urge the city's street gangs to halt ICE's operations. In a now-deleted June video, Gonzalez said, "I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles: 18th Street, Florencia. Where's the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory and 'This is 18th Street,' and, 'This is Florencia.' You guys tag everything up, claiming hood and now that your hood's being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain't a peep out of you."
"Whoever's the leadership over there, just f**king get your members in order," Gonzalez added.
Matt Himes, a California resident and the managing editor for Blaze Media's Align, stated, "Last week L.A. County official Cynthia Gonzalez allegedly went on TikTok to encourage local gang members to fight back against ICE. She didn't ask how her law-abiding constituents felt about the prospect of open warfare in their neighborhood. This disdain for the average citizen is typical of California's Democrat leadership."
Bell Gardens, a city located just east of Cudahy, also canceled its Fourth of July events, directly citing concerns about immigration enforcement. The city stated, "Out of an abundance of caution regarding concerns for resident safety over federal immigration enforcement activities, the City of Bell Gardens will be canceling the scheduled events between June 24, 2025, and July 10, 2025, including the Movie Nights on June 26 and July 10 as well as the Independence Day Celebration."
Since the cancellation notice, the city has repeatedly used its social media account to promote "immigration workshops." One pinned post reads, "Know your rights! Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed constitutional rights." The post instructs immigrants on how to respond to ICE agents arriving at their home, advising them not to open the door for officers unless they have a warrant signed by a judge.
Huntington Park, a city northwest of Cudahy, similarly postponed its Independence Day celebrations, though it did not provide a reason. Boyle Heights, located east of the Los Angeles River, also postponed its July 4 events, citing ICE activities, according to Alejandra Alarcon, a spokesperson for the office of city council member Ysabel Jurado.
Alarcon told the Boyle Heights Beat, "We're responding to the crisis with the presence of federal agents in the community." The outlet reported that celebrations for Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, and Northeast Los Angeles will be postponed until sometime in August.
As these California cities prioritize protecting illegal immigrants over celebrating Independence Day, critics argue that these actions betray the core values of America. Himes stated, "Legal immigrants love July 4 just like people who've been here for generations. But too bad: What really matters is 'protecting' the people with no respect for our country's laws.
Even my neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades (which burned to the ground on the watch of that same Democratic leadership) is having a big July 4 party my condolences to all my fellow Californians being denied one."
Gloria Romero, a former Democratic majority leader in the California State Senate, told Fox News, "They're basically canceling America; they're canceling patriotism." "We are basically led by a far-left, ultra-woke, [Trump derangement syndrome]-suffering fools," she said. This situation raises questions about the balance between maintaining law and order and preserving the spirit of national celebrations.
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