Immigrant advocates, including the group ÓRALE, marched from Harvey Milk Park to Long Beach City Hall on Oct. 13 to demand stronger protections for immigrant families by calling for changes to the Long Beach Values Act.
March participant Fernando Acevedo said advocates want the Long Beach City Council to place all six proposed changes to the act on its Nov. 10 agenda and approve them.
For Acevedo, the push for stronger protections connects to his family’s experience.
“Me personally, I’m the son of Mexican immigrants, so, you know, this has always been close to my heart,” he said.
ÓRALE is an immigrant-led organization that works to end the criminalization of immigrants and expand protections and opportunities for immigrant communities, according to its website.
Adopted in 2018, the act established rules for handling sensitive information and the city’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement, according to the city’s website.
Arlo Alegre, with the Filipino Migrant Center, said immigrant safety includes being able to live, work and study without fear. He said he has seen community members become afraid to go about their daily lives.
Alegre said the center wants all six proposed amendments adopted into the city’s sanctuary policies. He also wants residents to recognize their ability to bring change by organizing together.
For Alegre, stronger protections and community participation go hand in hand.
“Their power is not because they were granted stronger protection in the law, but because they came together as a community,” he said.
The concerns also connect to student privacy at Long Beach City College. In a June 8, 2025, campus message citing the Values Act, LBCC said it would not release student information to immigration enforcement authorities without a valid subpoena or court order.
Acevedo encouraged residents who want stronger protections to get involved through local organizations and conversations with their neighbors.
“Get connected to local organizations, talk to your neighbors, and figure out how you can support and be a part of that change,” Acevedo said.
Alegre, who identified himself as an immigrant, said the march allowed him to connect with others facing similar fears. He wants the city’s commitment to protecting residents reflected in its written policies.
“It would be great to live in a city that ensures that its people are protected,” he said.
As advocates push for the six proposed amendments, they are urging residents to stay involved beyond the march. They expressed the importance of showing up and making your presence and voice known.
With the debate over local sanctuary policies continuing to build, the pressure remains on city officials and institutions like Long Beach City College to codify explicit protections into law.
Whether the City Council adopts the six proposed amendments next month will determine how strictly Long Beach draws the line between local resources and federal immigration enforcement.
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