California lawmakers seek answers from ICE over reported enforcement operations in Central Valley
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Rep. Jim Costa and several California lawmakers have sent a letter to Acting ICE Director David Venturella seeking greater transparency about ongoing immigration enforcement operations they say have been carried out across the state.
The lawmakers said they have received little to no information about ICE operations that have been reported in communities including Fresno, Madera and Kerman.
Local leaders say the reported increase in enforcement activity has sparked fear and unrest throughout the Central Valley.
"I have never seen the level of fear in our communities, fear of going to work, fear of going to school, fear of going shopping," Costa said.
Costa, joined by Rep. Salud Carbajal and other local leaders, called for answers regarding the reported increase in ICE activity. In the letter, the lawmakers request accountability and information about the agency's operations.
"They've been very lacking in transparency and their responsibility to respond as they should to members of Congress," Costa said.
Local organizations estimate that about 100 people were detained in the Central Valley in recent weeks and say that number has since increased. They also report impacts on the region's workforce, particularly in agriculture and construction.
According to local advocates, some processing plants have experienced a 25% to 30% drop in attendance, while homebuilders have reported difficulties finding workers.
During a press briefing on Monday, advocates also criticized ICE's tactics, alleging that enforcement operations target workplaces and citing what they describe as documented examples of racial profiling.
"No one should be treated with such brutality. We, both as a community and a country, should not tolerate these violent ICE tactics, thuggish tactics," Carbajal said.
Carbajal also questioned the timing of the reported enforcement surge.
"It's not coincidental. This is happening right around the election; they are deporting individuals who are undocumented. They are detaining gobs and gobs of American citizens," he said.
Advocates further claim that some people detained in the Central Valley have been transferred to detention facilities elsewhere in California. They also allege that detainees from outside the state have been flown into the Fresno Processing Center.
"They were actually transported from Texas, from Florida, from New Mexico. Those types of tactics are just cruel," Supervisor Chavez said.
The lawmakers have asked Venturella to respond to their questions by Oct. 30. ABC30 reached out to ICE for comment and was awaiting a response at the time of reporting.