FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — ICE agents showed up at three Lennar job sites in Fresno and Madera counties over a two-day span last week, detaining workers at two locations and leaving without arrests at a third after a supervisor challenged agents’ authority to enter the job site.
On Thursday, agents appeared at Lennar construction sites in west Fresno’s Fanucchi Ranch development and the Riverstone development in Madera County. The following day, agents arrived at another Lennar site in the Tesoro Viejo development.
At Fanucchi Ranch, Andres Pacheco was detained as he arrived for work, according to his wife. She said Pacheco, who has lived in the United States for 23 years and is the father of three daughters, is being held at the Golden State Annex detention facility in McFarland.
“My whole life situation changed, especially for my girls. They are so attached to their daddy,” she said.
At Riverstone, a worker who asked not to be identified said agents detained his father while the two were working together.
The son said his father had no criminal record and is also being held in McFarland.
At Tesoro Viejo, construction worker Nick Rodriguez recorded video as a site supervisor confronted ICE agents.
“Our homes are private property. You guys have to have a signed warrant to enter our homes,” the supervisor says in the video.
Rodriguez said agents had been asking workers for visa paperwork before the superintendent intervened. Federal agents left without detaining anyone.
Immigration agents generally may enter public areas of a workplace without a warrant, but access to nonpublic areas typically requires either consent or a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Administrative immigration warrants generally do not authorize entry into private areas.
Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea, whose District 1 includes the Fanucchi Ranch area where Pacheco was detained, criticized the enforcement actions.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s really heartbreaking to see families in real time being ripped apart,” Perea said.
Madera County Supervisor Jordan Wamhoff, whose district includes the Riverstone development, urged residents not to interfere with federal operations.
Madera County Supervisor Bobby Macaulay, whose district includes the Tesoro Viejo development, said he was concerned about the impact the enforcement activity has had on residents.
“I am sad to see so much fear and anxiety throughout the County,” Macaulay said in a statement. “While I think most would agree violent criminals have no place here, we have to remove them in a way that is transparent and does not distress our communities.”
Action News asked Lennar whether agents were granted access to the three sites, whether they had warrants, whether the detained workers were employed by Lennar or subcontractors and what requirements the company has for verifying workers are authorized to work in the United States.
The company did not respond before publication.
