(LOS ANGELES) – Today, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced that her office has filed an amended complaint adding 13 additional cities across four counties to the coalition of intervenors the City of Los Angeles is leading in the federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s alleged illegal immigration enforcement activities, supported by co-counsel Munger Tolles & Olsen along with Democracy Defenders Fund. The lawsuit, Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem, was filed last month by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Public Counsel, and other immigration and civil rights attorneys. It alleges that the federal government, through the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) and Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), has engaged in unconstitutional and unlawful stops, round ups and raids without reasonable suspicion or probable cause and seeks to stop the agencies from utilizing disproportionate force in carrying out its work. Feldstein Soto’s office, along with the County of Los Angeles and the cities of Pasadena, Santa Monica, Culver City, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Monterey Park, and West Hollywood quickly filed a motion to intervene in the case on July 7 to bring government support to the plaintiffs’ claims.
The new cities joining the coalition are: Long Beach, Pomona, South Gate, Lynwood, Huntington Park, Paramount, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Anaheim, Santa Ana, City of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and Oxnard.
A little more than a month ago, the district court granted a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) on July 11, which blocked federal agents from illegally conducting immigration raids until the court considers a preliminary injunction. Then, on Friday, August 1, in response to the Trump Administration’s request to stay the TRO, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit maintained the order prohibiting the federal government from detaining people based on race, language or type of employment.
QUOTES FROM OFFICIALS IN IMPACTED CITIES:
“Since these illegal raids started in LA on June 6, I have maintained that every person in the United States, regardless of immigration status, is entitled to constitutional protection from the types of enforcement activities we have seen,” said Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney. “We will always stand up to protect our communities and to uphold the rule of law. Thank you to our growing coalition representing multiple jurisdictions across southern California.”
“Long Beach is proud to stand with our regional partners to throw our full weight behind this legal effort and send a clear and unified message. We will defend the rights, human dignity, and safety of every resident,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “These reckless and inhumane raids are a blatant abuse of federal power, and our response must be bold. By joining this lawsuit, we are taking a strategic and moral stand to protect families, preserve trust in our communities, and affirm that everyone belongs in Long Beach and across our region.”
“Pomona stands proudly in support of fairness, dignity, and due process for all. By joining the Vasquez Perdomo v. Noemis case, we are reaffirming our commitment to protecting the rights of immigrant families and upholding the constitutional principles that bind us as a community. Our residents deserve to live without fear of injustice — and we will continue to stand with them,” said Tim Sandoval, City of Pomona Mayor.
“Families are afraid to venture out. Churches and businesses are suffering. The Community is asking for help. We should never accept that the loss of rights and due process can be the new normal. This is an issue of humanity and providing protection for the most vulnerable,” said Mayor Maria Davila, City of South Gate.
“We proudly support this coalition that is uniting forces to protect the constitutional rights of individuals like Mr. Perdomo. This is the right thing to do as every city joining this effort is representing and fighting for the right to life, and liberty of those individuals that make great contributions to this country and deserve nothing less than a due process,” said Mayor Arturo Flores, City of Huntington Park.
“Our decision to intervene in this lawsuit is about standing up for civil rights. No one in our community should be subjected to unlawful treatment or targeted based on race or ethnicity. We believe in due process, fairness, and the responsibility to hold all levels of government accountable when those principles are lost,” said Mayor Peggy Lemons, City of Paramount.
“As Mayor of Bell Gardens, I’ve confronted ICE agents in our city and made it clear they are not welcome here. What’s happening is unconstitutional and deeply harmful. Masked, armed agents in unmarked vehicles have picked up our residents without explanation, spreading fear throughout our neighborhoods. Families are afraid to leave their homes, our summer events had to be canceled, and our small businesses are suffering. Our city has spent over $100,000 responding to protests, misinformation, and community trauma all caused by these unlawful operations. Bell Gardens is not a target. We are a proud, immigrant community, and I will continue doing everything in my power to protect the dignity and rights of our residents,” said Jorgel Chavez, Mayor of Bell Gardens.
“As Mayor of Santa Ana, my colleagues on the Santa Ana City Council and I are proud to stand with our immigrant community and other local cities in support of this lawsuit,” said Mayor Valerie Amezcua of Santa Ana. “The recent immigration enforcement has created fear on our streets. This climate of fear erodes the trust between our residents and local law enforcement. When people are too afraid to report crimes or seek help, our communities become less safe for everyone. And the harm doesn’t stop there, our local businesses, restaurants, and community spaces have emptied out, hurting workers, owners, and our city’s economic health.”
“Recent immigration enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have caused widespread disruption across Santa Barbara County and neighboring communities, instilling fear and instability through detainments in public spaces, businesses, schools, and workplaces. These actions have discouraged community participation, reduced access to essential services, and negatively impacted the local economy. The City is particularly troubled by the use of masked law enforcement officers, which has raised concerns about false detainment by impersonators and undermined public trust. While the City supports the enforcement of established laws, it strongly objects to the methods being used and is filing a petition to intervene in Vasquez Perdomo et al. v. Noem et al., joining other jurisdictions in defending constitutionally protected rights and ensuring accountability in enforcement practices,” said Mayor Randy Rowse, City of Santa Barbara.
“Immigrants are a vital part of the Carpinteria community, and the City will continue to uphold its commitment to creating a ‘Community for All,’ where everyone can live with dignity, respect, and safety,” said Mayor Natalia Alarcon of the City of Carpinteria. “By joining this lawsuit, the City affirms that it will stand by its immigrant community and protect against the infringement of constitutional rights and civil liberties.”
The lawsuit is set for a hearing on a preliminary injunction on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. If granted, the preliminary injunction could extend the conditions of the TRO as the case progresses.
Brief of the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles and 20 Central District cities in support of respondents.
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Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. Her team of nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including 500+ attorneys, carries out legal work for the City of Los Angeles at her direction and under her supervision. She is the first female City Attorney in L.A. history.