Local law enforcement agencies are attempting to calm the frayed nerves of undocumented immigrants after an unannounced Kern County raid last week by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents ignited rumors that similar raids were slated for Stanislaus County.
Turlock City Councilmember Rebecka Monez, who represents the heavily Hispanic-populated District 2, said she’d received several calls over the weekend from constituents who were on edge after hearing that raids were being conducted in Turlock.
“People are scared,” said Monez, who was re-elected to her second council term this past November. “And if you’re here in search of a better life, you shouldn’t have to live in fear like this.”
According to CalMatters, the Bakersfield roundup on Jan. 7 appears to be the first large-scale raid in California since the Nov. 5 election of Donald Trump, coming just one day after Congress certified Trump’s election.
Videos shared among Facebook groups and on Instagram appear to show Border Patrol agents stopping vehicles on Highway 99 last Tuesday and Wednesday in Bakersfield.
“They were stopping cars at random, asking people for papers. They were going to gas stations and Home Depot where day laborers gather,” Antonio De Loera-Brust told CalMatters “It’s provoking intense anxiety and a lot of fear in the community.”
The Turlock Police Department and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, as well as Turlock Unified School District, issued statements regarding their policies pertaining to immigration laws.
Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse posted a video on his department’s website, explaining that, to his knowledge, no such raids have been executed here, nor are they planned here. He also pointed out that his department is not in the business of rounding up undocumented immigrants.
“We are not federal agents,” said Dirkse. “We do not have the legal authority to enforce federal law. Period.”
Dirkse said that Senate Bill 54, passed in 2017, prohibits local law enforcement agencies from using their resources on behalf of federal immigration enforcement.
Turlock Police Chief Jason Hedden took a similar tone, stressing that TPD was not involved in any immigration roundups.
“We want to assure our community that our focus remains on protecting public safety and fostering trust,” said TPD’s press release. “While we do not participate in immigration enforcement, we will assist in situations involving clear and immediate public safety threats, apprehension of dangerous felons who present an ongoing risk to our community, or emergencies requiring law enforcement intervention.”
The release went on to say: “If you are a victim or witness of a crime, you can rely on your Stanislaus County law enforcement agencies for assistance — regardless of your immigration status. We are committed to serving and protecting every member of our communities with dignity, fairness, and professionalism.”
TUSD issued a press release Monday that said it “does not ask about the immigration status of students or their families. We protect and do not disclose confidential or personally identifiable information about our students or families. Furthermore, public schools have been designated by the Department of Homeland Security as ‘protected areas’ where immigration actions should not generally occur.”
The school district’s press release went on to say that TUSD’s focus is on “providing safe and secure campuses where ALL students feel supported and ready to learn.”
Just as TUSD's press release stresses the word "all," so did the sheriff.
“... (T)hat’s the key thing that we have to remember: We all live here in Stanislaus County. We are one community, and your local law enforcement is here for everyone in this community.”
