On Saturday, June 14th, ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents raided the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet. Allowing ICE to enter a private establishment without a judicial warrant is unacceptable, as is their failure to alert their vendors and visitors during the raid. The SFS Swap Meet claims their mission is, “To provide both Customers and Vendors a meeting place where they have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of people, feel safe and respected, is also fun for the whole family.” That mission went out the door when dozens of armed agents swarmed the swap meet, instilling fear and anxiety among the very community they profit from.

With deep historical ties to the Latino community, the SFS Swap Meet is more than just a marketplace—it's a cultural hub and an essential pillar of Southern California. Hundreds of vendors rely on working at the Swap Meet, often working in extreme conditions and for long hours to provide a service to their customers. Without question, the Swap Meet should be a safe haven for both vendors and visitors.

With LA being a recent focal point for ICE activity and protests, the SFS Swap Meet General Manager, Chris Woodson, failed to proactively create a sense of safety for the vendors. With rumors circulating that ICE would raid the swap meet days prior to the raid, the priority of management should have been to caution vendors and visitors and immediately postpone scheduled performances. Instead of protecting the community, ICE was permitted to enter a private space under the guise of the swap meet being considered a “public access area”. Additionally, their failure to immediately warn their vendors and customers during the raid, as well as disabling comments on their social media directly after the raid, betrayed the community they claim to respect.

It is crucial to ensure the integrity and safety of the SFS Swap Meet; to keep it free from fear of immigration enforcement that targets hard-working community members unjustly. Without public support, vendors' means for living is disrupted, and the community is made to feel unsafe. The SFS Swap Meet cannot survive when this fear continues unaddressed. 

This petition demands the immediate resignation of Chris Woodson as General Manager, who poses a liability to the livelihood of SFS Swap Meet vendors. Until then, a boycott by the public remains in place. New leadership is needed to prioritize the safety and well-being of vendors, visitors, and staff by implementing protective measures against ICE interference. These measures should include establishing a clear no-cooperation policy with ICE, setting up emergency protocols and rapid response network for vendors, as well as publicly sharing the recommitment to these initiatives.

Sign this petition to support a leadership change that will protect the vibrant community at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet from unwarranted ICE activities. Together, we can ensure this cherished, historical market remains a safe haven for all.