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PERSPECTIVE - In the days leading up to Memorial Day—Monday, May 26, 2025—a group of lifelong Highland Park residents came together to organize a remembrance event at our local Veterans Memorial site, located in the heart of this historic neighborhood just north of downtown Los Angeles.
They formed the Highland Park Veterans Memorial Committee, a diverse group of men and women representing the cultural and political spectrum of our community. Their shared mission was simple and profound: to honor all fallen U.S. military veterans.
The event featured performances by the Luther Burbank Middle School Drum Line and the Benjamin Franklin High School ROTC. Senior Lead Officers from the LAPD Northeast Division and a group of LAPD cadets also participated. Local Fire Station 12 ceremonially removed the old American flag and replaced it with a new "Old Glory."
More than 200 people attended, including elected officials from the federal, state, county, and city levels. During the ceremony, attendees were invited to speak the names of loved ones who had died in military service to our country.
Many older residents shared deeply personal stories. Some spoke of relatives who had served in the military despite being undocumented or non-citizens—individuals who fought and died for a country they believed in, even though it hadn’t always embraced them.
Then, on June 8, 2025, the same Veterans Memorial Committee organized a peaceful protest at the memorial site in response to the arrest and detention of undocumented individuals by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite short notice, the protest drew 300–400 participants. It was peaceful, heartfelt, and united.
Next, the committee planned a "No Kings Day" protest for June 14 at the same location. Flyers were distributed via social media and by hand to local businesses. While handing out flyers in Eagle Rock, I encountered a familiar face—Art Camarillo, a retired community figure and Vietnam veteran, easily recognizable by his veteran’s cap.
Mr. Camarillo, a co-founder of the El Rio de Los Angeles Veterans Memorial in Cypress Park, is also known for his staunch support of President Trump. I asked for his opinion on recent remarks by newly appointed Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan—who, during a Memorial Day address, twice misstated the date of the Pearl Harbor attack as June 7, 1941 (it was December 7, 1941). Phelan, a wealthy investor and major Trump donor with no military service, was still appointed to lead a branch of our armed forces.
Mr. Camarillo dismissed concerns about Phelan’s military inexperience, saying, “One does not need to have military experience to serve as a Secretary of any branch of our military.” When I pressed further—asking, as a Latino, what he thought of ICE detaining both citizens and non-citizens without due process—his response shocked me: “Anyone who is in the United States illegally should be removed and deported.”
I was furious. I told Mr. Camarillo that my in-laws had entered this country undocumented. They had eight children, four of whom served in the military. Their eldest son was killed in action during WWII in the Pacific; another became an LAPD officer after the war. My mother-in-law was a Gold Star Mother. In response, Mr. Camarillo pointed to his cap and said, “I served in Vietnam.” I walked away.
In the past, Mr. Camarillo had mentioned that his son-in-law, now retired, was a high-ranking member of the LAPD, and that his granddaughter may also serve on the force. Today, there are at least a dozen LAPD officers who are DACA recipients—Dreamers. According to Mr. Camarillo’s position, they too should be detained and deported.
Only after sharing my experience with other community members did I learn that Mr. Camarillo himself had once been undocumented. He was allowed to enlist in the military during the Vietnam War and gained U.S. citizenship after his service. So, what of all the undocumented men and women who also served—and died—in combat for this nation?
Now, under renewed calls from Trump and his allies, even naturalized citizens could face deportation. We’ve already seen the arrest of a father of three U.S. Marines—a man who had lived in this country for over 50 years without so much as a traffic ticket.
On June 14, our Highland Park community held its King’s Day event at the Veterans Memorial. It was a beautiful, peaceful rally attended by 800–900 people, affirming our commitment to justice and inclusion.
As I reflect on the people being detained and deported—many of whom have worked legally, paid taxes, and contributed to Social Security—I ask: What happens to the money they’ve contributed? Where is that justice?
As political figures like Steve Bannon ominously announce the arrival of “2025,” it’s clear we are entering a dangerous new era. Our nation was built on immigration. Now, it seems the gates are closing—not based on character, but on background.
Are we headed toward a future of selective citizenship? Have we already lost one of our three branches of government? The Constitution once defined our nation. Today, it feels like that foundation is crumbling.
In Highland Park—and communities like it—we must keep speaking out. We must remember our history, honor our sacrifices, and challenge the hypocrisy that divides us.
Now, as we celebrate July 4th, a day meant to celebrate freedom, independence, and the founding ideals of our nation, we must ask ourselves: freedom for whom? While fireworks light up the sky and flags wave proudly, many of our neighbors—some who have lived, worked, and served here for decades—face detention and deportation. True patriotism means ensuring that the promise of liberty extends to all who call this country home.
(Caroline Aguirre is a retired 24-year State of California law enforcement officer, LAPD family member, community activist and Neighborhood Watch captain. Aguirre is a CityWatch contributor.)
