FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Advocacy groups across the Central Valley say they are seeing an increase in immigration enforcement activity, reporting that some families are afraid to leave their homes as operations continue across the region.
Images circulating in recent weeks have shown immigration enforcement actions, including an incident in Fresno in early October in which ICE agents pulled a man from his work truck. In Kerman, a farmworker’s car window was smashed as he drove home from work.
Community advocates say the heightened enforcement activity is affecting daily life for many families.
Flor Martinez Zaragoza, with Celebration Nation nonprofit, said many residents are relying on others for help with basic tasks.
“Right now, families are trying not to leave their homes. They’re depending on their neighbors to help them with their groceries to take their kids to school, when they do leave their homes they’re living under this panic mode this anxiety, depression stress.”
According to the advocacy watchdog group, Valley Watch Network, it typically receives between 300 and 500 reports of ICE activity each month. The organization says that the number has increased to between 2,600 and 3,000 reports per month over the past couple of months.
The group also reports a geographic shift in where enforcement activity is being observed.
“The enforcement has definitely increased a lot more in these past couple weeks in the North Valley think Merced all the way up to San Joaquin County,” Nora Zaragoza-Yanez of Valley Watch Network said.
“People are being racial profiled. They’re being stopped at traffic stops. Their vehicles windows are being broken in. Excessive use of force, without display of a judicial warrant or warrant for someone’s arrest,” Zaragoza-Yanez said.
The issue has also drawn attention from state and federal lawmakers. Last week, Congressman Jim Costa and Sen. Alex Padilla made an unannounced visit to the Golden State Annex, an ICE detention facility in McFarland, but were turned away.
The visit came as California democratic lawmakers continue to seek information about ICE operations.
Last month, Congressman Jim Costa alongside other California lawmakers authored a letter sent to Acting ICE Director David Venturella, demanding answers about valley detentions, Action News is told they still have not received a response.
Meanwhile, days after the sweeping midterm elections, President Donald Trump said in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that he felt his deportation agenda had gone “too far.” He has since reaffirmed the policy, saying that “policy hasn’t changed.”
Click here for video story from ABC 30.
