Statement from Senator María Elena Durazo on the Election Rigging Response Act and Border Patrol in Little Tokyo
LOS ANGELES – Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) today issued the following statement regarding the Election Rigging Response Act and condemned the Border Patrol's intimidation tactics during today's press conference:
On California's Redistricting Response:
"California’s independent redistricting commission is a national gold standard—transparent, nonpartisan, and rooted in democratic values. It reflects our commitment to fair representation and good governance, and it’s a model other states should follow.
But while we uphold these principles, extremist politicians elsewhere are abandoning them. In states like Texas, Republican lawmakers are redrawing maps mid-decade—not to reflect population changes, but to cling to power and silence voters. This isn’t democracy. It’s manipulation.
If their policies truly resonated with the public, they wouldn’t need to rig the system. The fact that they’re resorting to this unprecedented gerrymandering reveals the truth: their agenda is unpopular, and they know it. In a functioning democracy, voters choose their leaders—not the other way around.
We cannot allow them to steal seats through gerrymandering while we play by rules they've already abandoned. That's why I support the asking the people of California to authorize this response. When democracy itself is under attack, we must give voters the power to defend it. We must meet fire with fire.
California's response is measured, temporary, and directly tied to their actions—if they back down, so will we. But make no mistake: we will not allow democracy to be dismantled on our watch."
On the Border Patrol Intimidation:
"What we witnessed today outside the Democracy Center in Little Tokyo was nothing short of political theater—a weaponization of federal law enforcement against the legislative process and against democracy itself. The timing was no coincidence. Border Patrol agents showing up with zip ties and military-style gear just feet away from elected officials exercising their constitutional duties is a brazen act of intimidation.
This administration is using immigration enforcement as a tool of political repression, targeting communities and silencing dissent. When federal agents conduct 'roving patrols' outside press conferences where governors and legislators are discussing the state of our democracy, we are witnessing the tactics of authoritarianism, not law enforcement.
These raids tear apart families, terrorize children, and now they're being used to intimidate elected officials. This must end now. We need comprehensive immigration reform that treats people with dignity, not masked agents conducting political theater to silence opposition. The Border Patrol has better things to do than serve as Trump's personal intimidation squad.
I call on my colleagues in Congress and state leaders across the nation to condemn this abuse of federal power. Our democracy cannot survive when law enforcement is weaponized against the democratic process itself."
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The 26th Senate District includes the communities of a diverse array of Los Angeles neighborhoods, including Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Mt. Washington, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, Atwater Village, Elysian Valley, Arlington Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Thai Town, Larchmont, Koreatown, Pico-Union, Westlake-MacArthur Park, Historic Filipinotown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District, Civic Center, City Terrace, East Los Angeles, and the City of Vernon
