Editor’s Note: In the first half of July, East County Magazine ran two stories of specific Jewish interest: A member of the community detained and released by ICE, and the Jamul Casino pulling out of SD Pride Festival and donating to JPride’s counter-festival. Both articles were written by East County Magazine’s editor Miriam Raftery.
La Mesa Grandmother Detained by ICE
July 11, 2025 (La Mesa) – La Mesa resident Barbara Stone, a 71-year old U.S. citizen and courthouse observer at immigration proceedings, is free tonight after being detained by Immigrants and Customs agents (ICE) for eight hours without access to an attorney, according to her daughter and witnesses.
Jessica Kort posted a plea for help after the detention: “My mom, Barbara Stone, has been volunteering as a legal observer at the San Diego Edward J. Schwarz Federal Building courthouse to support immigrants at risk of detention, bear witness to and ensure procedural accountability as ICE detains individuals after their proceedings, and escort individuals after hearings.”
The post continues, “This morning, in an effort to intimidate and retaliate against the volunteers, ICE arrested Barbara and federal officers have detained her the whole day. She is being interrogated without an attorney and without talking to witnesses.
According to Kort, Stone is a 71-year-old white woman, a US born citizen, a grandmother, and a passionate volunteer for the most vulnerable in our society.
Stone’s website indicates she is a graduate of Grossmont High School in El Cajon who later studied U.C. Berkeley and at the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies, later working for Qualcomm Inc.
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Jamul Casino Pulls Out of San Diego Pride Festival
July 3,2025 (Jamul, CA) – After Jewish groups withdrew from the San Diego Pride Parade over objections to participation by headliner Kehlani over antisemitism, the Jamul Casino and Resort announced today that it will not be participating in the event.
“Given the complexity and sensitivity of this situation involving free expression, political symbolism and community inclusion, Jamul Casino Resort’s position is one that prioritizes its firm commitment to core values such as artistic freedom, equality, diversity and genuine respect for community concerns,” says Kirvin Doak, media contact for Jamul Casino Resort.
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East County Magazine and San Diego Jewish World trade articles under auspices of the San Diego Online News Association.
Good for Jamul casino. A shame to learn about Barbara Stone. I had read about her, but did not know anything about her. Will ICE ever case to exist!?