ICE raids

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and Rep. Judy Chu demand an end to raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (“Leaders demand to see detainees after raid,” June 19).

The same officials support sanctuary city policies that keep ICE agents out of jails and prisons and force them to go out into communities like Pasadena to apprehend criminals, only to face potentially dangerous and unpredictable situations in public places like the Orange Grove shopping center.

City spokesperson Lisa Derderian stated,“Pasadena Police does not coordinate or participate with the federal government’s enforcement activities.”

Did the two men who were detained outside Winchell’s Donuts on June 18 have criminal records or outstanding warrants? Were they in the country illegally? If so, they were subject to deportation.

— Les Hammer, Pasadena

Reality-based

Your editorial page asked readers’ opinions on the “riots” and your letters section on June 17 printed three responses. One of them was from a reader in Rancho Palos Verdes who offered a balanced, normal, reality-based take on what happened, including the firing of tear gas and rubber bullets, a few of which we saw were deliberately shot at news reporters.

The other two letters seemed to have been written by people who suffer from the same delusional non-reality mindset as their presumed great leader. They screamed out unfounded charges of “troops of black-clad anarchists” rioting and other unfounded hysteria. As did Trump by claiming that he saved L.A. from burning to the ground by sending in troops.

I note that their demand for “law and order” was seconded by Republicans in D.C., but aren’t these the same folks that have spent years trying to sweep under the rug an actual riot that caused death and destruction on Jan. 6? All in a scheme to overthrow an election?

What do they have to say regarding the Republican whitewash of these events and the mass pardoning of the criminals who would have destroyed our republic ?

— David Gooler, Pasadena

The totalitarian state

It looks like the totalitarian state has taken another big step in dismantling the America we once loved. They are now bold enough to drag a U.S. senator out of a news conference for dramatically announcing that he had a question for Ms. Noem! (Aren’t officials supposed to answer tough questions at a press conference? It’s being turned into a bootlicking event.)

Once outside, Sen. Alex Padilla was shoved to the ground and handcuffed like some dangerous carjacker! Brown Shirt stuff! Far from profusely apologizing, Noem brushed it off with the usual slime! We should loudly demand her resignation.

Think of what lies ahead if you have the stomach for it. Think of soldiers being sent to enforce Trump’s illegal decrees. Think of the judiciary being progressively ignored, step by gradual step. Think of libraries, museums, and universities being defunded for “inappropriate” works. Think of workers who harvest our food being terrorized and deported by ICE! Think of China’s giant scientific strides — and the defunding of our own sciences. Think of Trump seizing more and more power — and a third term! The immediate enabler of all this is the Republican Party. That body of spineless jellyfish, marching in lockstep, has got to go!

— Dave E. Matson, Pasadena

Doggie assassin

Re “Push comes to shove for Noem and Padilla” (June 13): Our great California Sen. Alex Padilla happened to be standing there listening to the asinine lies being spouted by doggie assassin Kristi Noem, such as, “We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership.” God bless him for speaking up, or at least trying to speak up, before the Trump stormtroopers shoved him to the ground and handcuffed him like he was a punk.

This is a wake-up call for all of us. If a U.S. senator can be violently treated like that, what about us? Yes, Trump and his freak-show minions are trying to liberate us — specifically from our freedoms and liberties as spelled out by the U.S. Constitution! When are we going to put a stop to this and impeach these authoritarian traitors?

— William Stremel, South Pasadena