U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, or ICE, showed up in Fremont early Saturday morning. The operation took place in the Sundale neighborhood, known for its very diverse community. Some community activists have expressed concerns that certain ethnic groups may have targeted.
“To me, that is nothing short of racial profiling. And to me, it is so disheartening to see these ICE agents terrorize our community,” says Harris Mojadedi, a long-time Afghan community organizer who grew up in Sundale. Mojadedi explains that the area is home to many Afghan refugees who came here legally. However, earlier this year, many were threatened with the revocation of their humanitarian parolee visas.
“We see that when ICE comes into communities and conducts raids like this, the aftermath is that kids don’t go to school. That people don’t seek health care,” Mojadedi adds. He also points out that many Afghan refugees currently receive SNAP benefits, making them doubly impacted by both the raids and the federal government shutdown.
British Journalist Sami Hamdi Detained at SFO
In related news, British journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi had his visa revoked at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Sunday morning after the Department of Homeland Security deemed him a threat to national security.
City Officials Respond
Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan confirmed that ICE contacted Fremont police ahead of the deployment. “We were very alarmed when we first heard about it. We were informed this is a ‘knock and talk’ program, where it is a voluntary program. They talk to folks and try to see if they will come talk to them. That is all we know,” said Mayor Salwan.
The Fremont Police Department reported receiving notice just before 7 a.m. on Saturday about the ICE deployment, which concluded around 10 a.m. Mayor Salwan reminded residents that Fremont is a sanctuary city. “We follow state laws, and we make sure that we focus on crimes; we don’t worry about people’s immigrant status,” he stated.
Community Reactions and Concerns
Fear about the deployment of federal agents in their neighborhoods is causing immigrants throughout the Bay Area to be wary of leaving their homes. In a statement to ABC7 News, Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington said that while the police department cannot stop federal immigration enforcement efforts, Fremont police did not assist or provide resources for the ICE deployment.
He added, “The Fremont police department was not provided with details or information related to the results or actions of federal law enforcement deployed in the City of Fremont. We have no reports or information regarding the number (if any) of detentions or arrests.”
ICE did not respond to requests for comment.
Local Leadership Weighs In
“I don’t understand this strategy around going door-to-door in terms of immigration enforcement,” said Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas. Last week, Supervisor Fortunato Bas proposed a county-wide immigration enforcement response plan and raised concerns about ICE’s deployment tactics under the current administration.
“This administration has really ramped up immigration enforcement, and it doesn’t seem to be targeted to what they said, which is looking for people who have criminal records,” Fortunato Bas added.
California State Senator Aisha Wahab, whose district covers all of Fremont, expressed concerns about the lack of transparency with local law enforcement and elected officials. “The lack of transparency. The lack of dialogue. Even with other law enforcement agencies. So our local police department, as well as our county sheriffs, the fact that they are kept in the dark when things like this are taking place,” she said.
“Elected officials, like me, have to do the digging rather than getting a notice that, ‘Hey, something like this is going to be conducted in your district.’ That is a problem. That erodes public trust,” Senator Wahab concluded.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ice-conducts-knock-talk-fremont-000001469.html