Valley leaders clash as reports of ICE activity grow across the Valley
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Concerns over immigration enforcement are growing across the Central Valley as reports of ICE activity increase and federal authorities reportedly push for significantly more arrests nationwide.
Local leaders say fears are spreading throughout immigrant communities. Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco said eight city residents have been detained over the past two days alone.
The concerns come as ICE has reportedly set a new enforcement goal of 3,000 arrests per day, or roughly 19,000 arrests per week nationwide.
On Thursday, Action News observed several men being released from the ICE office in downtown Fresno while a Department of Homeland Security van and an unmarked vehicle sat outside the facility.
Just blocks away at Fresno City Hall, elected officials gathered to discuss what they describe as a lack of transparency surrounding immigration enforcement operations.
"How do you answer a child that is in fear of what's going to happen to their parents?" asked Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran.
Community members say many families are being left without answers, often unsure why loved ones have been detained or where they may be taken.
Those concerns were brought directly to lawmakers, who offered starkly different views of current federal immigration policy.
"There's no oversight. There's no guardrails. They refuse to respond to any questions that we ask. They don't tell us when and where they're going for these searches," Congressman Jim Costa said.
Rep. Tom McClintock defended the enforcement efforts.
"I don't know what more transparency there is than the plain law that says that a person who is in this country illegally shall be detained and shall be deported," McClintock said.
Among the chief concerns raised Thursday were reports that legal immigrants have been questioned or detained based on appearance, language or ethnicity.
"No one should be targeted because of the color of their skin, the language they speak, their accent, or their last name," California Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria said.
The discussion also focused on immigration detention facilities and access to detainees.
Costa argued that federal officials have restricted oversight and visitation at those facilities.
McClintock disagreed, saying detainees ultimately have control over whether they remain in custody.
"Those in the detention facilities are free to leave any time they want for any country that will accept them. They're simply not allowed to return into our country," McClintock said.
As enforcement activity increases, the debate continues over what is driving the strategy.
McClintock said ICE operations have been steadily expanding for some time. Costa, however, argued the increased enforcement is being used as a form of intimidation with the midterm elections approaching.