Bell Gardens, a Southern California city, had arranged a Fourth of July event featuring crafts, games, and a laser light show as a substitute for fireworks. Flyers were distributed, vendor agreements finalized, and a full band scheduled to perform cumbia and salsa music.
This small city, with just over 38,000 residents within roughly two square miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, is predominantly Hispanic, with more than 96 percent of its population identifying as Latino. Bell Gardens is part of a cluster of over two dozen Gateway Cities known for their largely working-class Latino communities.
However, in light of recent developments, Mayor Jorgel Chavez began reconsidering the decision to proceed with Thursday's festivities.
Federal immigration raids have become increasingly frequent across Southern California, with approximately 2,000 immigrants detained in the Los Angeles area since early June. Masked agents have conducted arrests in public spaces including shopping center parking lots, car washes, bus stops, and auto repair shops. Many of these operations, often recorded and shared on social media, have instilled widespread apprehension among residents concerned about potential targeting regardless of their immigration or criminal status.
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