Report to City Council
ID: 25-0365 Page 1
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brian Mohan, City Manager
AGENDA DATE: August 19, 2025
TITLE: PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING
POTENTIAL UNANNOUNCED IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES BY FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION AGENTS AT CITY -HELD SPECIAL
EVENTS (REPORT OF: CITY MANAGER) (DISTRICT:
ALL DISTRICTS)
TITLE SUMMARY: Public Safety concerns regarding potential unannounced immigration enforcement activities by federal immigration agents at City-held special events.
DISTRICT: All Districts
Recommendation(s)
That the City Council:
1. Provide direction regarding the remaining Special Events scheduled for 2025 due to public safety concerns related to potential unannounced immigration enforcement activities by federal immigration agents at the Special Events.
SUMMARY
This report seeks direction from the City Council regarding whether to cancel any of the remaining Special Events scheduled for 2025 due to potential unannounced immigration enforcement activities by federal immigration agents at the Special Events.
ID: 25-0365 Page 2
DISCUSSION
The Federal Government has recently taken an extremely aggressive approach to enforcing federal immigration laws which involve unannounced raids, plain clothed officers wearing masks, unmarked vehicles, and immediate arrests. This has created fear amongst not only immigrants, but also the broader public which include some U.S. citizens and others with legal status who fear that they may be taken into custody by mistake if they do not possess any identification or other proof that that they are not “undocumented” on their person at the time they are confronted by an immigration enforcement agent. Such aggressive enforcement activities, particularly at public gatherings, can generate significant anxiety amongst those in attendance , particularly amongst parent s who fear that their children may be traumatized by witnessing their parents’ arrests and being separated from their parents if the parents are taken into custody and transported to a detention facility.
In light of the foregoing, if federal immigration enforcement agents suddenly appear at any of the City’s scheduled Special Events, which the agents will know when and where they will take place, it could jeopardize the safety of all those in attendance. For instance, it could incite certain persons who fear arrest to try to quickly exit the Special Event venue, which in turn could disrupt the orderly movement of crowds at the Special Event by prompting the crowds to engage in irrational and dangerous movements for self - protection which could lead to injuries and fatalities.
Several Southern California Cities have canc elled their special events , citing safety concerns over immigration enforcement activities . The City of Cudahy postponed its planned Independence Day party; the City of Bell Gardens dropped plans for public movie screenings and a planned July 3rd concert; and the City of Huntington Park canceled their July 3 “Celebration of Independence.”
On October 1, 2024, the City Council approved the following Special Events calendar for the remaining Special Events in the 2025 calendar year.
In light of the public safety concerns referenced in this report, staff seeks direction from the City Council as to whether any of the remaining Special Events in 2025 should be
ID: 25-0365 Page 3
cancelled.
FISCAL IMPACT
Dependent on the direction provided by council.
NOTIFICATION
Publication of the Agenda.
PREPARATION OF STAFF REPORT
Prepared By: Department Head Approval:
Brian Mohan Brian Mohan
City Manager City Manager
CITY COUNCIL GOALS
Public Safety: Provide a safe and secure environment for people and property in the community, control the number and severity of fire and hazardous material incidents, and provide protection for citizens who live, work and visit the City of Moreno Valley.
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
1. Economic Development
2. Public Safety
3. Library
4. Infrastructure
5. Beautification, Community Engagement, and Quality of Life
6. Youth Programs
ID: 25-0365 Page 4
Report Approval Details
Document Title: STAFFREPORT_CM_SPECIALEVENTS.docx
Attachments: - PCS 2025 SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR_DRAFT 8.2024.pdf Final Approval
Date:
Aug 14, 2025
This report and all of its attachments were approved and signed as outlined below:
Patty Rodriguez
Natalia Lopez
Dena Heald
No Signature found
Angel Galache
No Signature - Task assigned to Launa Jimenez was completed by workflow administrator Patty Rodriguez
Launa Jimenez
Patty Rodriguez