Los Angeles County Supervisor and LA Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn has asked the mega transit agency to display information on immigrants’ rights on all its buses, trains and stations during heightened tensions from ICE raids occurring across the nation.
“Sharing critical information and campaigns that educate our riders about their rights, specifically in relation to ICE and law enforcement interactions, is a powerful tool that could help alleviate the anxiety that many of our immigrant communities are experiencing,” wrote Hahn in a Feb. 12 letter to LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins.
Hahn said Metro has not posted any such informational materials, nor distributed them to riders, according to an emailed response on Feb. 24. Her office confirmed that information on Thursday, Feb. 27.
In a brief response, Metro said it is working with the county on Hahn’s request. Hahn elaborated, saying: “Metro is working with the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs right now to develop these “Know Your Rights” materials and I hope they will be posted for riders soon.”
Shortly after Donald Trump took office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began conducting raids, focusing on sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles as well as Chicago and Atlanta. The Trump administration also lifted guidelines that restricted ICE from operating at “sensitive locations” such as schools, churches or hospitals, according to news reports. Numerous protests against the Trump mass deportation policy have taken place in the L.A. area in the last few weeks.
When asked if she was concerned that ICE agents could come onto Metro stations, buses and trains and deport riders who are undocumented, Hahn responded:
“Right now, I have no reason to believe ICE is planning to conduct raids on buses or trains,” she wrote in an emailed response to questions.
Metro contracts for law enforcement with LAPD, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Long Beach Police Department. They have said they do not cooperate with ICE, Hahn wrote.
Nonetheless, Hahn said an information campaign by Metro would help the large immigrant community who ride Metro buses and trains to become more informed, “so they know their rights if, when, and wherever immigration enforcement agents approach them.”
Hahn’s proposal has picked up support from transit-rider support groups and local elected officials.
“I commend Supervisor Hahn for this, to make sure ICE does not step into Metro. This is the time to really think about that,” said Scarlet De Leon, executive director of the Alliance for Community Transit – Los Angeles (ACT-LA). The nonprofit works for justice and equitable public transit, with an emphasis on low-income riders and people of color.
She said ICE has been spotted in several areas of Los Angeles, including places near bus and train stops. She has heard from immigrant constituents who are staying home, avoiding public places — including bus stops and train stations.
“Under this environment right now, folks are fearful to seek out services and even go out of their house,” she said.
About 63% of bus riders are Latino/Hispanic, while 10% are Asian/Pacific Islander and 16% are Black/African American, according to a Metro survey from 2023. On Metro’s rail lines, 50% are Latino/Hispanic, while the percentages for other people of color was similar to bus ridership.
Of the Metro bus riders, 43% had an annual income of under $15,000, the survey reported.
Many of these riders are maids, day laborers, retail and hospitality workers who don’t own a car and are dependent on public transit. “Metro’s highest ridership by percent are working class folks and some undocumented riders,” De Leon said.
Rep Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, said she’d heard about an early-morning raid in Alhambra this past week.
“All immigrants have constitutional rights when interacting with ICE agents,” wrote Chu in an emailed response. “It’s critical that all of our communities, including immigrant communities, know those rights.”
She has posted information for immigrant communities in nine languages on her website at: chu.house.gov/immigrationrights.
“I’m thankful to have partners in Los Angeles County at the local level like Supervisor Hahn raising awareness about people’s constitutional rights so they can feel safe in their homes, in churches and schools, and traveling to work,” Chu wrote.
The office of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, in an email on Friday, Feb. 28, said the senator “supports individuals knowing their rights and has been vocal about the issue.”
De Leon suggested it would be easy for LA Metro to follow the lead of the Los Angeles Unified School District, which has handed out “Know Your Rights” information on small “red cards” to students and staff.
The cards provide advice such as, “do not open the door if an immigrant agent is knocking” and “do not answer any questions from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.”
She said the cards also have been distributed in public places, such as pools and libraries.
“It would be something very easy for Metro to do say on buses,” De Leon said, adding that most immigrant Metro customers use the bus system more than the trains.
She’s also calling on Metro Transit Ambassadors to be the eyes and ears at train stations for any ICE activity.
“Now more than ever, it is essential that our public transit system serves as a safe and inclusive space for everyone,” wrote Hahn in her letter to Metro CEO Wiggins.
Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for LA County and carries 1 million boardings daily on six electric rail lines and 118 bus routes.
SCNG staff writer Teresa Liu contributed to this article.