Editor's Note:
Some people interviewed for this story asked not to be named in the story, citing concerns about their safety and the possibility of retaliation from immigration if identified.
Local activists reported alleged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the downtown San Luis Obispo area yesterday morning.
Activists took several pictures and followed vehicles they suspected were being used by agents due to their tinted windows, paper license plates and clean exteriors. One was an unmarked black Ford Expedition that multiple witnesses saw drive through downtown with blue and right lights on.
Residents who gathered near the courthouse chased the vehicle, shouting, “They’re here to take someone.”
The 805 Immigrant Coalition posted on Instagram warning of “two expeditions” near the San Luis Obispo City Courthouse and advising people to stay clear. Residents began monitoring the area earlier that morning after receiving reports of alleged ICE presence, photographing and following vehicles they suspected were linked to federal agents.
READ MORE: How Cal Poly plans to respond to federal immigration enforcement on campus
The practice of ICE agents detaining people outside of court is not unprecedented. In Chicago, lawyers spoke with National Public Radio and said the presence of agents made their clients afraid to come to court.
Witnesses report SUVs circling near courthouse
Youth activist Cesar Vazquez obtained photos from residents that were posted onto 805 Immigrant Coalition account.
“Between 10 and 2:30 p.m., ICE raid vehicles circled downtown San Luis Obispo while taunting activists and community members, at one point an ICE agent saying, ‘What are you going to do, arrest me?’” Vazquez said.
Activists on the ground followed the vehicles around San Luis Obispo. Vasquez says this prevention is necessary.
“We are seeing a mirrored image of what has occurred throughout history and are currently living in what we thought to be the past,” Vasquez said. “If people don’t rise up to defend our community, we will be complacent to another genocide added to the history books.”
One resident, who positioned herself behind the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse, connected people with the network she used to report alleged ICE sightings. The resident alleged ICE vehicles circled the courthouse waiting to detain undocumented people.
READ MORE: Resilience in the face of fear: SLO County prepares amid Trump’s immigration policies
“We are interfering as we are legally able to, we are documenting and we are alerting other people that ICE is here,” the resident said.
Another activist said the alleged ICE vehicles circled around the courthouse through Higuera, Osos, Marsh, Monterey and Palm streets.
“If [ICE agents] are doing the right thing, and they have a warrant, then I’m not going to interfere,” the other activist said. “But, in case there is an unlawful abduction, covertly, I want to at least provide resistance against that.”
Legal Context
In a case that was raised to the Supreme Court this month, Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, the court lifted a temporary restraining order that had limited ICE’s ability to stop or question people in Southern California based solely on factors like race, language, accent, location or occupation.
Under the ruling, ICE agents may now briefly detain individuals for questioning about their immigration status under a “reasonable suspicion” standard, using those previously prohibited factors either alone or in combination.
That lower court order had covered several counties including San Luis Obispo.
Following the reported sighting, the 805 Immigrant Coalition posted photos of vehicles it alleged were linked to ICE activity in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. The group described the vehicles as “terrorizing” local communities and urged residents to be alert.
A spokesperson for the coalition said to Mustang News there have been previous spottings of ICE by the courthouse alongside the prison.
READ MORE: Students protest against immigration policies, bring music and dance to Dexter Lawn
When asked for comment, spokesperson Tony Coppolo said the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is not involved in immigration enforcement and is not informed about any ICE activity within the county.
“The sheriff’s office has no coordination with ICE,” Coppolo said. “It’s actually against the law because of the Trust and Truth Acts in California. We are not allowed to coordinate with ICE, or they do not tell us when they are in our county.”