Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Anti-ICE Protest Scheduled Before Mayor’s State of the City Speech Tonight

An anti-ICE protest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. today at Robinson Park Recreation Center, 90 minutes before Mayor Victor Gordo delivers his State of the City address at the same venue.

The rally has been publicized by an organization called Grupo Auto Defensa Dena.

The planned “ICE OUT OF DENA” rally would highlight three weeks of escalating tensions over federal immigration enforcement in Pasadena.

Those tensions intensified on January 7 when José Madera, director of the Pasadena Community Job Center, was arrested and cited by Pasadena Police after following and documenting an ICE vehicle’s movements through northwest Pasadena. When the ICE agent drove to the Pasadena Police Department at 207 N. Garfield Avenue., Madera followed. There, Madera was approached by Pasadena police as he sat in his car.  He was arrested and cited for misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer related to an incident that occurred during the police contact.

That same day, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen named Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. On January 24, a second U.S. citizen, 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in the same city.

The national incidents have fueled local concern. On Monday, community defense training at All Saints Episcopal Church drew nearly 800 people—eight times the expected attendance.

“We expected a hundred people,” said Patrick Briggs, an All Saints parishioner and vestry member. “We had almost 800.”

Briggs described the emotional response to the turnout: “There were multiple people I know who are Mexican-American, Bolivian, undocumented, with tears in their eyes at the sight of so many people.”

The training, organized by Grupo Auto Defensa, focused on how residents can safely respond when ICE agents appear in their neighborhoods.

Mayor Gordo, Pasadena’s first Latino mayor, who was born in Mexico, addressed the Madera arrest in a January 9 statement.

“On January 7, José Madera, a beloved community leader and the Director of the Pasadena Community Job Center was questioned and detained by Pasadena Police following allegations raised by a federal ICE agent who had entered our community that day,” Gordo said. “While José was released immediately after processing, his being detained shook those who know his character, his record of service, and his unwavering commitment to Pasadena.”

Police Chief Gene Harris has committed to a “complete and thorough investigation” into the incident.

After his release, Madera said: “That ICE car was going all over Pasadena instilling fear, but we were right there… letting community know, documenting and keeping the peace.”

Wednesday’s anti-ICE rally begins at 5:30 p.m. at Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 North Fair Oaks Avenue The State of the City address follows at 7:00 p.m. at the same location. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Free parking is available on-site. The address will be livestreamed at PasadenaMedia.org/Kpas and broadcast on KPAS (Charter Spectrum Channel 3, AT&T U-verse Channel 99). For accessibility information, contact (626) 744-7311 or CSC@cityofpasadena.net.

The mayor’s theme for this year’s address is “Rising Together.” Vice Mayor Jess Rivas will introduce him.