Agents from the Immigration and Customs Control Service (ICE) have been reportedly escalating their scrutiny of volunteers affiliated with local rapid response networks.
Amid a surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and arrests throughout California, the frequency and severity of attacks have escalated.
The report sheds light on a disturbing trend involving the detention of U.S. citizens, predominantly white individuals, by federal immigration agents, often in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies.
Claudia González, a representative of the nonprofit 805 UndocuFund, has noted an uptick in immigrant abductions since the inception of the Safe California campaign. The organization, which oversees rapid response networks across the Central Coast, has been monitoring the situation.
The Department of Homeland Security, overseeing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, initiated a 45-day migration operation known as Safe California in early October.
Hundreds of individuals have been detained across the state as part of a recent operation, marking the largest surge in arrests since the mass raids in 2025. The incident has resulted in serious injury to a 20-year-old high school student, who suffered a fractured wrist after being violently apprehended by ICE agents while en route to school.
González noted that harassment against observers has also escalated.
“She was very scared.”
The 805 UndocuFund has established a network of over 1,500 volunteers across three counties, including Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo. These volunteers undergo training, which educates them on their constitutional right to document Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities within their communities.
Volunteers are advised to prioritize their safety and may choose to retire from their role if they ever feel uncomfortable or threatened.
A volunteer, Alexandra, was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on October 15 in Santa María, a predominantly Latin American city situated approximately an hour north of Santa Barbara.
The 805 UndocuFund has requested that the identities of volunteer observers remain confidential to prevent potential retaliation from federal agencies.
Alexandra was detained by ICE agents while participating in a neighborhood outreach effort with other volunteers. She was stopped in her vehicle and taken to a local ICE facility, where she was held for approximately 30 minutes before being released without being charged.
Alexandra, an American citizen and volunteer, expressed that her detention experience instilled a deep sense of fear, mirroring the emotions often felt by immigrants and their families during similar situations, according to González.
The individual expressed concern that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence had initially intimidated her, yet she has persisted in her duties, continuing to patrol and inform the community.
One day prior to Alexandra's arrest, Joseph D., who initially volunteered at 805 UndocuFund and is now the organization's quick response organizer, was detained by agents from the National Security Investigations division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
González stated that the individual was apprehended while on patrol in Camarillo.
A fatal incident involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle occurred in 2025, approximately 100 miles south of Santa María, in the vicinity of Camarillo.
A man was held in custody for two hours before being released, however his case remains unresolved as authorities continue to assess whether charges will be filed against him.
During the arrests conducted by ICE agents outside the Santa Maria prison, a volunteer with the UndocuFund suffered minor injuries when agents physically restrained her to prevent her from recording the incident.
The organization has consistently faced opposition and criticism throughout its history.
Immigrant activist González notes that the hostility she and her colleagues encounter from federal immigration agents is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather a heightened level of aggression is currently being experienced.
The individual expressed concern over the escalating situation, stating that they have consistently faced aggressive tactics, including being confronted with firearms, exposed to pepper gas, and subjected to various forms of intimidation. However, they emphasized that the current circumstances are particularly dire.
During a series of mass shootings in 2023, incidents were reported in cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis, resulting in the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were documenting the activities of ICE agents at the time of their deaths.
According to recent reports from NPR, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is utilizing advanced surveillance tools provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to monitor, apprehend, and potentially intimidate individuals, including both those who are subject to deportation and U.S. citizens who express criticism of ICE policies.
Concerns are emerging over alleged cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, a practice that appears to contravene the provisions of California's sanctuary law, SB 54.
Footage from various locations, including an incident in which an onlooker was detained by local authorities, appears to depict law enforcement officers in cities such as Santa María providing assistance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during their operations.
Joseph observed that police officers often maintain a defensive posture, standing with their arms crossed during interactions, which can have a detrimental impact on public trust. This behavior leads to a decrease in the number of people calling 911, ultimately eroding confidence in the police. The root of this distrust lies in the police's own behavior.
Leo Martínez, a prominent figure in VC Defense, a local organization advocating for immigrant rights in Ventura County, has been detained by ICE agents on multiple occasions. Specifically, he was arrested in October 2025, followed by subsequent arrests in March and May 2026.
Local law enforcement agencies have been serving as security personnel for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. However, in many cases, individuals detained by ICE, including the speaker, have been released without facing charges due to what they describe as unjustified reasons for their arrests.
The Santa Maria Police Department failed to provide a response to ACoM's requests for comments prior to publication, despite the organization's assertion that the accusations against them lack merit.
González expressed concern that the detention of migrants and harassment of observers may persist beyond the November 3 election date.
The situation is expected to persist as long as President Trump remains in power, although the intensity of the efforts may wane. Despite fatigue, the volunteers have expressed a determination to continue moving forward.
A collaborative journalistic initiative, Here We Are/Here We Stand, was undertaken by American Community Media in partnership with multiple community media outlets across the state to produce this report.
