ICE OUT OF COSTA MESA!
Join us at City Council on Tuesday July 15th.
Show up! Speak out! Demand Action!
Families are being stopped, questioned, and detained by masked agents in unmarked vehicles. While city officials have made brief statements, they’ve taken no meaningful action to protect our community. That’s why we’re calling on residents to show up, speak out, and demand real protections at the next City Council meeting. Whether you join in person or participate via Zoom, your voice matters.
While remote participation is available, we strongly encourage residents to show up in person to stand together in solidarity and build community power inside City Hall.
Follow us for updates on Instagram at @ICE_out_of_CM.
Can’t come in person?
Join virtually!
Click here for info.
Not sure what to say during public comment?
We got you!
Click here for scripts.
Join the City Council Meeting Remotely
If you’re unable to attend in person, you can participate via Zoom or call in. But if you’re able and it is safe, we encourage you to come in person. Your presence matters.
📺 Zoom Webinar (Audio & Video)
- Zoom link: click here
Webinar ID: 899 8281 2676
Password: 772583 - How to join:
- Click the Zoom link.
- Enter the provided Webinar ID & Password.
- Select “Join Audio via Computer” (or dial in via phone).
- If it says “Please wait for the host,” stay in the waiting room until the meeting starts.
- During the Public Comment Period, use the “raise hand” feature located in the participants’ window and wait for city staff to announce your name and unmute your line when it is your turn to speak. Comments are limited to 3 minutes.
📞 Phone Call–In (Audio Only)
- Call 1‑669‑900‑6833
- Enter the same Webinar ID (899 8281 2676) and Password (772583).
- During the Public Comment Period, press *9 to add yourself to the queue and wait for city staff to announce your name/phone number and press *6 to unmute your line when it is your turn to speak. Comments are limited to 3 minutes.
How to Speak During Public Comment
- When the public comment period begins, use the Zoom “Raise Hand” button, or if on phone, dial *9 to request to speak.
- Wait to be called by name or phone number.
- When prompted, unmute yourself—either click the mic icon or press *6 if calling in.
- Speak for up to 3 minutes (or as directed, which may be reduced to 1 or 2 minutes depending on the number of public speakers).
- When you’re done, you’ll be muted again by the City staff.
Zoom/Public Comment Tips
- Join early—at least 10 minutes before the meeting starts at 6 PM; the queue opens during early public comment time.
- Test your audio/video ahead of time.
- For phone-only callers: background noise doesn’t affect connectivity as much—but still mute when not speaking.
- If you encounter issues, contact the City Clerk at (714) 754‑5225 or cityclerk@costamesaca.gov for technical support.
🗣️ Need Help Speaking at the Meeting?
Speaking at City Council can feel intimidating but your voice matters. Whether you’re attending in person or joining by Zoom, public comment is your right. To help you prepare, we’ve created short sample scripts based on the key demands we’re making.
Feel free to use them as-is, or make them your own. What matters most is that they hear from real residents who care.
Please arrive before 6:00pm to speak during the public comment period (after presentations). You have 3 minutes to address the city council, possibly 1 to 2 minutes depending on the number of speakers.
🟣 1. General/Introductory Script
Good evening. My name is [Your Name], and I’m a Costa Mesa resident. I’m here tonight because our community is scared, and rightfully so. ICE is operating in our city and stopping people, detaining them, and terrorizing neighborhoods. While city officials have made a few comments, we haven’t seen any actual protections put in place. I’m asking you to take this seriously. We need more than words. We need policy. We need leadership that reflects compassion, courage, and commitment to protecting every resident. Please listen to the people here tonight. We are your constituents, and we are asking you to act.
🔴 2. No CMPD Collaboration with ICE
I’m speaking today to demand that Costa Mesa end all collaboration between the Police Department and ICE. We need a clear policy: no communication, no coordination, no sharing information with federal immigration agents. Our city should never be complicit in separating families or targeting immigrants. People are afraid to call the police even when they need help, because they fear being handed over to ICE. Protecting our community starts with trust. You can help restore that trust by drawing a clear line that CMPD does not work with ICE.
👁️ 3. Require Badges and No Masks
When ICE shows up in Costa Mesa, they come in unmarked cars, wearing masks, and often without any clear identification. That is terrifying. I’m calling on this Council to require that any law enforcement operating in our city (federal, state, or local) must be clearly identified. No masks. No anonymity. If officers are doing their jobs legally, there is no reason to hide. We need to know who is policing our neighborhoods and hold them accountable. On Wednesday June 25th, the City of Huntington Park passed a resolution to verify federal agents’ identify when operating in their community after a man with a human smuggling record impersonated an ICE agent. And we demand that Costa Mesa pass a similar resolution.
🔊 4. Public Notification and Oversight
If ICE is coming into our neighborhoods, we have a right to know. I’m urging the city to implement a policy requiring advance public notification and council oversight of any ICE activity in Costa Mesa. Other cities have set this standard. We deserve the same. Keeping the public in the dark only deepens fear and mistrust. Transparency is a minimum requirement in a functioning democracy. You work for us. Keep us informed and be accountable.
⚖️ 5. Support for Legal Defense and Mutual Aid
When ICE raids happen, families are left traumatized and unsupported. Our city must do more than just stay neutral. We must invest in our people. I’m asking this Council to support the creation of a legal defense fund and mutual aid network so that families facing detention or deportation have legal help, housing support, and community protection. Cities across California are doing this, including the City of Anaheim. There’s no excuse for Costa Mesa to do nothing. Help us build a city that doesn’t just survive crises but stands together through them.