LA is home. We ALL belong here 💙

ICE and the federal government are carrying out traumatic, highly militarized, racist and unlawful immigration actions against Angelenos in our beloved city. The Trump administration also issued a xenophobic travel ban, targeting countries from mostly Africa, Asia and the Middle East. 2025’s continued onslaught of attacks from this administration are meant to cause chaos, sow fear, intimidate and distract, so, in solidarity with marginalized communities, we remain steady, focused, organized, and unified.

In 1979, LTSC was founded to address inequities in the Japanese immigrant community. We are rooted in social justice and activism informed by the Nikkei experience as descendants of immigrants, and those values guide our mission. Today, 45 years after LTSC’s founding, we proudly serve a widely diverse Angeleno community. And while some progress has been made, immigrants and communities of color continue to suffer injustices–something the Japanese American community knows all too well.

Merely 80 years ago, the Japanese American community experienced forced removal, detention and incarceration at the hands of our federal government. We know firsthand the importance of resistance and solidarity. It’s our duty to make sure history never repeats itself, and to stop the perpetuation of trauma and injustice to immigrant communities.

While vandalism has occurred in LA this week, these actions are not representative of the vastly peaceful demonstrations. The media has focused on the portrayal of vandalism and chaos in Little Tokyo and Downtown LA, but we know that the unprecedented ICE detentions (and deployment of the National Guard and Marines) are the root cause of the escalation. While it may be easy to judge how people are protesting, it’s important to focus on why people are protesting and what’s at stake. LTSC always has and always will stand in solidarity with immigrant communities and support the constitutional right to peaceful protest.

As we navigate this period of uncertainty, LTSC continues to show up for our community every day. Our offices remain open to provide crucial services, with the physical and emotional safety of our residents, clients, partners, staff, and supporters remaining top priority. As difficult as this moment is, there’s nothing else LTSC would rather be doing. Thank you for standing with us, especially now. Know your rights, check in on loved ones, practice self-care, support our small businesses, and speak up for our immigrant communities. Collective care and action are powerful ways to resist fear and stand up for what is right. LA is home, and we all belong here. 💙

In solidarity,

Erich Nakano, Peter Gee and Takao Suzuki
Descendants of immigrants
Current and Future Executive Directors of Little Tokyo Service Center

Resources

• Report ICE activity at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) Hotline: 888-624-4752
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center: Know Your Rights Toolkit
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice SoCal: Immigrant Rights Resources
• Asian Law Caucus: Immigrant Rights Resources
• NAKASEC Know Your Rights app
• Call your elected officials and ask them to take a stand on ending ICE raids. Find your Congress member at www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
• Immigrant Defenders Law Center Rapid Response Legal Resource Hotline (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties): 213-833-8283
• If someone you know is arrested at a protest, call Jail Support LA at (424) 610-3020 for support including monitoring detentions, bail, and paperwork
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s Family Preparedness Plan toolkit in English and Spanish
• For support with crisis, referrals, and an emotional support warmline, call the Department of Mental Health (DMH) Access Center at (800) 854-7771 or CalHOPE at (833) 317-4673
• Little Tokyo Service Center’s social services: 213-473-3035