Prospect.org: ICE raids target Central Valley farmworkers ahead of midterms

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained dozens of farmworkers in California’s Central Valley during a pre-election enforcement surge that arrived alongside mail-in ballots ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, prospect.org reported.

Central Valley Raids Disrupt Agricultural Communities

According to residents and local advocates, enforcement agents conducted roving patrols and random traffic stops along rural predawn roads, detaining individuals without presenting warrants or asking for names. Some of the detained individuals have spent as much as 49 years living in this country.

The group also stated that ICE detained farmworkers on their way to fields in Bakersfield. The United Farm Workers stated that agents stopped workers regardless of their legal status or long-term work authorization. A person’s race, ethnicity, accent, language or perceived immigration status should not become a substitute for individualized facts establishing reasonable suspicion or other lawful grounds for a stop or enforcement action, said Nora Zaragoza-Yáñez, the organization’s Valley Watch Network manager.

Conflicting Claims Over Targets and Tactics

Federal officials and local representatives offered differing accounts regarding the scope of the operations. In a televised debate against Randy Villegas, when asked about immigration enforcement, Valadao responded, It is what it is.

However, local advocates and congressional Democrats challenged that assertion. Adam Schiff stated on social media that the administration was pushing a destructive immigration agenda backed by court-allowed racial profiling to deter Latino citizens from voting, writing, This administration is not done pushing their destructive immigration agenda, backed by court-allowed racial profiling, and utilizing ICE agents armed to the teeth by your tax dollars. They hope to deter Latino citizens from voting with these awful tactics. They must not succeed. Randy Villegas, the progressive Democrat running in California’s 22nd Congressional District, stated, All law-abiding immigrants who work hard and contribute to our communities across the Central Valley have a right to go to work or drive their kids to school and return home safely. Villegas has continually criticized Valadao for voting to put $85 billion toward ICE’s enforcement budget and facilitating mass arrests and deportations. Similarly, Ravi Mangla of the Working Families Party criticized local leadership, stating, Valadao made clear in the debate that he’s not going to stop or stand up to ICE, even when they terrorize his own constituents. He’s an absolute coward.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to inquiries regarding the exact locations of the operations, the total number of detainees, or the broader agency goals. A DHS spokesperson stated, For operational security and the safety of our officers, ICE will not disclose or discuss law enforcement operations, adding that Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country, including in California.