Immigration Raids Spark Fear Among California’s Agricultural Workers

Immigration raids carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in California’s Central Valley have created widespread fear among immigrant communities and disrupted industries reliant on migrant labor, The Fresno Bee reported.

Dubbed "Operation Return to Sender," the enforcement operation in Kern County resulted in 78 arrests, targeting individuals with criminal records. I Photo: Kris Grogan, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

During a news conference in Fresno, U.S. Representative Jim Costa stated his office had received numerous calls from agricultural and dairy industry leaders concerned about the raids.

Dubbed "Operation Return to Sender," the enforcement operation in Kern County resulted in 78 arrests, targeting individuals with criminal records.

However, reports suggest that some arrests involved individuals not on the agency's list.

Luis Chavez, Fresno County Supervisor, highlighted the operation’s ripple effects, including parents’ reluctance to send their children to school, which could impact funding for local education.

"The fear is 100% real," Chavez said, emphasizing the potential economic and community damage.

While Border Patrol Commissioner Pete Flores assured Costa that the Kern County raids had concluded, conflicting reports and a Facebook post from Border Patrol indicated potential upcoming operations in Fresno and Sacramento, further fueling uncertainty.