Fear of ICE raids forcing many Bay Area organizers to cancel events
Over the past few months, organizers of events throughout the Bay Area and state have been canceling or postponing activities for Latino residents due to increased fears that federal immigration agents could target them.
The cancellations come as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ramped up detainments of immigrants nationwide amid the Trump administration's promise to reach arrest quotas of 3,000 people per day. ICE has begun targeting immigrants who have been vetted and given a legal status to stay in the country, versus focusing on only those with criminal histories.
To reach the administration's arrest quota, ICE has begun targeting workplaces, Home Depot parking lots and events. Last month, federal immigration agents showed up to a Dodgers game in Los Angeles and attempted to gain entry to the parking lots — but were denied. Rumors of ICE sightings and pending raids have spread wildly among immigrant communities, resulting in many staying away from public gatherings and conspicuous places like day-labor spots, even keeping their kids out of school.
Some cities in Southern California have canceled Fourth of July events citing concerns about the crackdown on immigrants. Several small cities in Los Angeles County, including Cudahy and Bell Gardens, which are predominantly Latino, have called off Independence Day and other community activities due to the potential of federal immigration enforcement.
So far, no Fourth of July events have appeared to shut down in the Bay Area, but officials say the same concerns are playing out in the region.
'The fear in the community is very real and intense,' said San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller, who noticed light attendance at numerous community events and cancellations. 'Imagine knowing there are people out there actively hunting you and your family.'
Recent ICE data shows that arrests in Northern California have increased roughly 70% this year, compared to the final six months of the Biden administration. While arrests of convicted criminals grew, arrests of people who were suspected only of immigration-related violations, or had pending charges, went up much faster.
Sandra Sencion, farmworker director at Ayudando Latinos A Soñar, which translates to 'helping Latinos dream,' a nonprofit in San Mateo County, said her organization had planned to take 30 farmworkers on a field trip to Alcatraz in June. Many of the farmworkers, who typically work long hours to provide for their families, had never been there. But then immigration raids in Los Angeles ramped up and Sencion said she was forced to ax the trip due to anxieties about ICE.
'We are definitely seeing a lower turnout within community gatherings and celebrations,' Sencion said. 'People aren't even going to the grocery store. Parents are sending kids to peek through the window. It's just really heartbreaking to see that and hear that.'
In San Francisco, organizations that provide services to immigrants have also reported smaller turnout at events. Gabriel Medina, the executive director of La Raza Community Resource Center, said his organization has seen a 15% decline in volunteers at its food pantry. Some volunteers are from the community and have since been afraid to leave their homes, he said.
In addition, Medina said La Raza held an open house in June to celebrate the organization's 55th anniversary, but held off until the last minute to send invitations to trusted contacts.
'We were really scared about having the event, and we took the most time to disclose it,' Medina said, noting that the Trump administration has been targeting organizations that offer immigrant services.
In addition to smaller gatherings, massive events that were expected to draw thousands of people have also been called off. Felix Ortiz, the founder of Oaxaca in the Wine Country, a nonprofit that holds cultural events and rodeos, said he was forced to cancel a Father's Day rodeo that was expected to draw thousands of people. Ortiz said the event had only sold about 200 tickets and after talking with residents and vendors who expressed worries, he had to call off the event.
Ortiz said he is not deterred by the threat of immigration authorities and is now planning a Guelaguetza festival, which is a celebration of Oaxacan culture, in Santa Rosa with city leaders and the police department for mid-July that he is hoping will bring residents together.
'Guelaguetza is about unity and coming together,' Ortiz said. 'I don't want it to be a protest, I just want this to be a cultural moment for everybody.'
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