ICE Surge in California's Central Valley Draws Voter-Intimidation Charges: Bakersfield Arrests Near 10 a Day
Federal immigration agents have fanned out in recent weeks across California's Central Valley farm country around Bakersfield, in Kern County, stirring fear in Latino communities and allegations of voter intimidation in a toss-up congressional race that could help decide control of the U.S. House of Representatives, Reuters reported on October 31.
In Bakersfield, immigration arrests jumped from about one a day for much of the year to nearly 10 per day in mid-October, according to preliminary Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data. In nearby Wasco, home to just 26,000 people, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested at least seven people in the span of a few days. The United Farm Workers union said it knew of hundreds of California farmworkers detained in recent weeks.
The planned surge in California was announced to agents in early October, an internal email seen by Reuters shows, and was directed by the White House, according to a U.S. official. Unlike past operations in big cities such as Minneapolis and Chicago, the surge has been carried out by small groups of officers moving from town to town, with arrests outside homes and at busy intersections, in strip-mall parking lots, gas stations and near schools.
The focus of the dispute is California's 22nd congressional district, which includes Bakersfield and is 73 percent Latino. Polls have shown Democrat Randy Villegas with a slight edge over six-term Republican incumbent David Valadao. Villegas told reporters last week that the arrests were a 'very clear attempt to try and intimidate our communities before this election.'
Valadao said in a statement that he understood 'the fear and uncertainty immigration enforcement has created for families throughout our communities,' urging the Trump administration to 'prioritize the removal of individuals who pose a threat to public safety.' He has said ICE is targeting criminals in the community, while acknowledging the agency had gone too far in some cases without giving examples. DHS declined to comment on the California operations, citing concerns for officer safety, and did not respond to the intimidation allegations. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said in a statement that Trump's agenda had made Hispanic Americans 'more prosperous and safer,' and referred questions on ICE operations in California to DHS.
'By all metrics, this should be a very close district,' said Thad Kousser, co-director of UC San Diego's Center for Transparent and Trusted Elections. 'Anything that drives voters to or away from the polls could matter.' A Reuters/Ipsos survey last month found just 24 percent of Hispanic Americans approve of Trump's performance, the lowest share in either of his presidential terms.
United Farm Workers national vice president Elizabeth Strater told Reuters that the vast majority of farmworkers detained in recent weeks had no criminal records and some had legal work authorization. Local farmworker Maribel Ramirez said some young Hispanics with U.S. citizenship had told her they were scared to vote, fearing it could expose the addresses of family members without legal status. Ana Valencia, who owns a barber shop in Bakersfield, said there are fewer people on the streets and some local businesses are offering free delivery to those afraid to leave their homes; she said she voted early.
Tuesday's midterm elections (November 3) will decide control of both chambers of Congress, with Republicans fighting to retain their House and Senate majorities.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：加州中央谷地农田航拍（Kings County，资料图）。Kingofthedead 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Aerial view of farmland in California's Central Valley (Kings County, file photo). Photo by Kingofthedead, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
