'Very few people out in the streets': ICE surge rattles Californias Central Valley

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Set us as preferred Across California’s Central Valley, a reported surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations that began last week has disrupted agricultural communities, sparked confrontations and left families scrambling to locate detained relatives.In the city of Kerman, Mayor Maria Pacheco confronted ICE agents on Thursday as they detained people.“You’re not welcome in my city,” she told an agent in a video posted on Facebook.“You’ve taken enough people yesterday.

We don’t want you here.”The following day, a 72-year-old Fresno resident shot and wounded an ICE agent whom police said had fallen asleep on the resident’s daughter’s front lawn, appeared “intoxicated and agitated” and allegedly assaulted the resident.Prosecutors have charged the agent with assault, elder abuse and other crimes.In Madera, organizers postponed the third annual Oaxacan Guelaguetza festival, amid growing fears, according to the group’s Facebook.Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias said the enforcement operations led to a drop in school attendance and sparked student protests Friday.

“We’re seeing across-the-board reduction of school attendance, substantial reduction in employees showing up to farm operations, packing sheds and in the fields.Construction has essentially come to a halt,” Arias said.

“We’re seeing very few people out in the streets.”In a written statement, Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, condemned what she described as a “brutal ICE surge.” “Warrantless stops and roving patrols by masked federal agents across California, especially the Central Valley have been terrorizing farm workers ...and the chaos is escalating,” she wrote.

“These are not criminals.These are hard-working, long term members of our communities being unlawfully targeted simply for look...