Los Angeles Activists Install ICE Warning Sirens in Highland Park

Community members aim to alert neighbors of federal immigration raids

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A grassroots effort in Los Angeles is working to install warning sirens in the Highland Park neighborhood to alert residents when federal immigration agents are spotted nearby. The sirens, which can be heard up to half a mile away, are being installed on private property by community members led by local political candidate Nelson Grande. The group plans to formally test and use the sirens by the end of February to give residents and business owners a way to activate them when they spot federal agents or receive confirmed information about an immigration operation.

Why it matters

Highland Park has seen an increase in ICE raids, leaving the community feeling uncertain and concerned about the presence of federal immigration enforcement. The sirens are a community-driven effort to provide early warning to residents about potential enforcement actions, though the legality of the sirens is being questioned by local authorities.

The details

The group has already installed at least 20 sirens on private property in Highland Park, with plans to continue expanding the network. Residents and business owners can use a mobile app to activate the sirens if they spot federal agents or receive confirmed information about an immigration operation in the area. However, the Los Angeles Police Department has stated the sirens could violate the city's noise ordinance, and the U.S. Attorney's Office has warned the activists that they could face federal charges for harboring or assisting illegal immigrants.

  • The group plans to formally test and use the sirens by the end of February 2026.

The players

Nelson Grande

A Highland Park native who is running for the Los Angeles City Council and is among the community members leading the effort to install the warning sirens.

Bill Essayli

The First Assistant U.S. Attorney who warned the activists that they could face federal charges for harboring or assisting illegal immigrants.

Los Angeles Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that stated the sirens could violate the city's noise ordinance and that citations could be issued if they are called to the area.

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What they’re saying

“Highland Park has seen a really big influx of raids. There's definitely a lot of uncertainty, and you can feel it throughout the community.”

— Nelson Grande, Highland Park resident and political candidate

“I would admonish these anti-government activists that it is a federal crime to harbor or assist in harboring illegal aliens. They should familiarize themselves with 8 U.S.C. 1324(a), which carries a penalty of up to 5 years in federal prison.”

— Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney

What’s next

The group plans to formally test and use the sirens by the end of February 2026, though their legality is being questioned by local authorities.

The takeaway

This community-driven effort to install warning sirens for ICE raids highlights the growing tensions and uncertainty felt by immigrant communities in Los Angeles, as well as the legal challenges that can arise when residents take matters into their own hands to protect their neighborhoods.