Almost a week after his beloved ice cream vendor was taken into custody by federal agents, hundreds of community members and political leaders gathered at Veterans Memorial Park to demand his release and raise funds for legal defense.
Ambrosio Rozano, known locally as “Enrique,” was taken from his ice cream cart last week by an eyewitness called a surgery involving an agent masked on an unmarked vehicle. The vendors have been selling popsicles and “paretas” (frozen sweets made from fresh fruit) at Culver City Park for nearly 20 years.
“Now, my uncle, there are a lot of people here. What’s going on with a lot of people is very inhumane. That’s not alright,” his nie, Kimberly Noriaga, said at a gathering on Sunday.
Senator Sidney Kamlager Dove criticized the detention attitude, saying that Enrique was “invited and lured by people hidden in unmarked cars without warrants.”
Members of the community described Rozano as generous and often gave free Paretas to children who could not afford them. While acknowledging that he is not a US citizen, supporters emphasized that he poses no threat to the community and has no criminal history.
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“The whole community is here. Not just my uncle, but everyone in the community we grew up with supports my uncle, not just my uncle,” said Mariella Neri, another nie.
The family is collecting character statements for the petition for a bond hearing in Texas, where Lozano is being held. His nie’s Meira Segura expressed optimism about securing his release, saying, “We’ve posted Bond for him and know that when he goes out, he’s fine.”
Supporters reported that Lozano was denied food, exposed to frozen state, and prevented him from receiving visitors at the detention centre.
During the rally, community leaders advised residents about their legal rights during the immigrant encounter, including badge numbers, judicial warrants and asking if they would leave freely.
LA County Superintendent Holly J. Mitchell urged the community to prepare.
The GoFundMe page was established to support bond money and support to Lozano’s families, which have lost their major source of income.
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