Los Angeles neighborhood installing sirens to warn of federal immigration agent presence
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A siren that warns of federal immigration enforcement action is pictured in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (KTLA)
by: Will Conybeare, Jocelyn Fiset
A grassroots effort led by residents and community activists in Los Angeles’ Highland Park is working to install warning sirens to alert people in their neighborhood when federal immigration agents are spotted nearby.
Organizers say the goal is simple — give families time to move to safety.
Amanda Alcalde created the Highland Park Community Support Group, offering resources to residents concerned about federal immigration raids. “We’d like to ultimately have this along all the different streets so they can take shelter,” she said.
She’s already posted flyers alerting neighbors about the sirens, which she hopes to begin installing later this month, some of which have been posted on social media.
One of the most recent posts indicates a siren will be installed at the corner of Monte Vista Street and Avenue 56. A dual-language school sits at that intersection. Per the flyer, the siren system will be installed on Feb. 23.
“If you hear the siren, ICE is in the community,” the flyer reads.
Because the effort isn’t city-sanctioned, organizers say they’re working directly with willing homeowners and local businesses, placing the sirens on private property rather than going through city permitting channels.
“Really taking a lot of that influence from Minneapolis and trying to turn it into our own here,” Alcalde said.
On the street will be a different type of alarm. Volunteers distributed ICE alert whistles to neighbors, encouraging residents to warn each other when enforcement activity is seen.
“We don’t directly get ourselves involved with ICE, but we will get involved protecting the community to stay in their office or home,” activist David Trujillo said.
Federal officials have not commented specifically on the siren initiative.
Locally, this move also follows a new directive from Mayor Karen Bass aimed at limiting ICE activity on city property, part of the city’s broader response to increased immigration enforcement across Los Angeles.
“I’ve seen a lot of fear in people’s eyes. I don’t see a lot of our ethnic minorities out in the day to day. It’s big change. It feels dystopian in a way,” Alcalde said.
Because this is all being done through a nonprofit, they are accepting donations from community members.
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