Recent videos circulating on social media show what appears to be federal agents making arrests throughout the Inland Empire.
A video posted on Facebook by the Inland Coalition for Immigration Justice showed possible immigration law enforcement agents in Cathedral City escorting a handcuffed man to an unmarked vehicle at 7:35 a.m. Monday at 68395 Ramon Road.
The nonprofit organization posted a video Tuesday morning showing several masked agents possibly from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a San Bernardino sidewalk near Lugo Avenue and Baseline Street. The Facebook post said, “Heavy presence in the city today, please stay alert or away, if possible.”
Another post showed a photo of a man, whose face was blurred to conceal his identity, handcuffed and standing next to two possible agents about 7:40 a.m. Monday outside a Target store at 67750 E. Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City. One of of the possible agents in the picture is wearing a vest marked “Police HSI.”
“We are aware of reports and videos circulating on social media regarding federal immigration enforcement activity both in Cathedral City and our surrounding cities. The city of Cathedral City has been a sanctuary city since 2017. In compliance with California state law (SB 54), the city does not coordinate with, assist in, or receive advance notice of federal immigration enforcement operations,” Ryan Hunt, Cathedral City spokesman, said in a statement.
“The Cathedral City Police Department does not enforce civil immigration laws and does not ask about immigration status when responding to calls for service,” Hunt added.
San Bernardino police said “it is not the role or responsibility of local police to enforce federal immigration laws,” according to an SBPD statement. “Our primary focus is public safety, not immigration status.”
In Indio, a 34-year-old man wanted for an unspecified immigration violation, struck a mailbox and was detained Friday, Indio police said.
Officers responded to a report of a collision about 12:30 p.m. Friday in the 46000 block of Vargas Road. The driver and three children in a Ford Focus were hospitalized. Information on their injuries was not immediately available.
“The Indio Police Department’s involvement was limited to responding to the traffic collision, ensuring roadway safety, and coordinating appropriate medical response,” Sgt. Abraham Plata said said in a statement Friday. “The Indio Police Department was not involved in any ICE enforcement or investigative actions and did not participate in the ICE operation.”
Indio City Councilman Oscar Ortiz posted a video Friday on Facebook that relayed concerns from residents about immigration enforcement activity. Ortiz said he knew of at least two people who were detained and suggested the TODEC immigration hotline for anyone in need of legal assistance, 951-388-2008, or todec.org.
“Our community has made us aware that ICE has been very active in our city over the last few days,” Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills said in a statement Friday. “We’ve actually talked to ICE agents and let them know that we are not assisting them in any way, shape or form.”
President Donald Trump’s administration began a widespread crackdown of illegal immigration throughout Southern California in June.
