Residents of Santa Barbara and Goleta neighborhoods reported U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted operations on Sunday.
According to the 805 UndocuFund, a nonprofit that aids undocumented immigrants, agents in plain clothes and driving unmarked vehicles were seen in various neighborhoods with witnesses confirming the detention of at least one individual in Santa Barbara’s Westside.
Witnesses also reported the operations extended to Old Town Goleta and the Eastside neighborhood near Milpas Street in Santa Barbara. These sightings prompted the 805 UndocuFund to issue a warning over social media, advising the community to stay calm, know their rights, and to demand a warrant signed by a judge before allowing agents onto their property.
“Alert: Sunday, January 26 12:46 pm, ICE agents confirmed on the Eastside and Westside of Santa Barbara and Goleta. Uniformed agents in a black Tahoe and a gray Dodge Charger plate 7EWL053, blue vehicle in the photo and several other vehicles. Remember your rights. Don’t panic. They have the right to remain silent. They ask to look at an order formed by a judge, ask if he is free to leave. Take it easy. If you have something to report call the Rapid Response Line (805)870-8855,” the nonprofit stated.
Local organizations, including the Santa Barbara County Immigrant Legal Defense Center, have mobilized in partnership with 805 UndocuFund. They confirmed that their rapid response efforts successfully prevented at least one arrest, underscoring the community’s vigilance and preparedness against such federal actions.
The widespread sharing of the incident on social media has heightened fear among the Latinx community, not only affecting undocumented individuals but also impacting legal residents. Reports from local residents suggest a growing concern over racial profiling and the safety of simply walking outdoors in their own neighborhoods.
In response to a social media comment stating ICE agents are only going after those with criminal records, 805 UndocFund responded, “It’s more complicated than that. We have information of arrest today of people without a criminal record. US Citizens and permanent residents have also been arrested in other regions of the state.”
These operations occur amidst a broader context of increased immigration enforcement and the expedited deportation orders under the Trump administration, which also ended a 14-year police that bans ICE from making arrests at schools, churches and hospitals.
The California Immigrant Policy Center states that no matter who is president, everyone living in the United States has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution, including undocumented immigrants.
“Knowing your rights calms fears in some respect,” said Bill Hing, director of the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic at the University of San Francisco. “Stay silent. You don’t have to open your door for an ICE officer unless that officer has a warrant [signed by a judge.] But honestly, there is a lot of anxiety in the community. And I think that the Trump strategy is to instill fear. And unfortunately, that’s happened.”
The recent activities mark the first confirmed ICE presence in Santa Barbara and Goleta since these escalated deportations were announced. On social media, ICE confirmed 956 arrests and 554 detainers logged on Sunday alone. It’s unclear how many took place in Santa Barbara County.
The Rapid Response Network is a community-led initiative that provides support and resources to undocumented individuals and families facing immigration enforcement actions across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Trained volunteers respond to reports of ICE activity, offering legal observation, know-your-rights education, and immediate assistance to affected individuals.
The nonprofit asks community members to report any confirmed sightings of:
- ICE or Border Patrol activity in your neighborhood or workplace.
- Immigration raids or checkpoints.
- Detentions or arrests of undocumented individuals.
- Any suspicious activity that may involve immigration enforcement.
To report, call or text “ALERT” to (805) 870-8855 to receive real-time updates and critical information.
The California Immigrant Policy Center also provides the below tips if ICE shows up at your door:
- The right to remain silent – it’s OK to refuse to speak to ICE. Do not to answer questions including where you were born or how you entered the United States.
- The National Immigration Law Center advises that people carry a know-your-rights card, also known as a “red card, or “tarjetas rojas,” as well as any valid immigration document, and show them if an immigration officer stops you. Know-your-rights cards can be printed here.
- Do not open your door simply because ICE agents tell you to. ICE officials must have a warrant signed by a judge, not a deportation officer, to enter your home. To be valid, a warrant must have your correct name and address on it. Ask the person at your door to slip the warrant under the door to see who it was signed by. If it was not signed by a judge, tell the officers you do not consent to a search and call your rapid response hotline.
- Immigrants also have a right to speak to their lawyers, do not to sign any document before speaking to a lawyer. You can simply say, “I need to speak to my attorney.”
- Immigration advocates advise that parents tell ICE agents that they have children if they’re worried about being arrested.
- Create a safety plan such as memorizing the phone number of family and friends you can call if you’re arrested, figure out who will watch your children if you’re detained, and keep important documents, like birth certificates, in a safe place that family and friends can access if necessary. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center put together a step-by-step family preparedness plan.
- Make sure your loved ones know how to find you in an ICE detention center by looking online. Be sure they know your alien registration number.
- Do not carry documents about your country of origin.
- Do not carry fake immigration documents or IDs.
- Report and document raids and arrests to (805) 870-8855.
- If ICE calls or sends a letter to reschedule a check-in, that can often mean they want to detain you.
- If you feel your rights have been violated, write down everything you remember, including the officers’ badges and patrol cars numbers, which agency the officers work for. Get contact information for witnesses. If you get injured, the ACLU reminds you to take pictures of your injuries and file a written complaint with the agency’s internal affairs unit.
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This on top of how many Hispanics losing their jobs or homes to the LA fires and having to live with relatives or become homeless is inhumane.
Resist fascism!
Fight the Gestapo!
https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xwqpoq4wkcegppzinojubdms/bafkreiccld3hsr7spnwsqy2n54o5vqtj3x7cblmdnbbzwdoijkcijwtd3a@jpeg
https://hmd.org.uk/resource/first-they-came-by-pastor-martin-niemoller/
Race, color, religion, sex, age does not matter to me. I support deporting all people who have entered our country illegally, as did he majority of the country that voted- it was a bipartisan message to our government!
Where was all your outrage when Obama deported so many? he deported many more than Trump when Trump was prez.
PONO – “Actions have consequence – break the law, face the consequence – simple.”
Yes! So why did you vote for a criminal? Why do you support the releasing of 1500 violent criminals into our streets? Don’t those criminals deserve to face consequences?
Something that many of can do: If you know or suspect that someone who works for you is here illegally, give them money to carry on their person in case they are picked up and deported. At least that gives them some pocket change to get a place to stay for a night or two, something to eat, and funds for a bit of transportation. If they are from Mexico, you can order pesos at your bank for a very nominal fee. I just picked up $14,000 MX (about $700 USD) from my bank to pass out to several hard-working/honest/law-abiding individuals who have been in my life for decades. IF you give them US dollars, be SURE that the bills are crisp/clean with no rips/tears/marking of any kind….not even a teenie tiny marking. These are considered damaged and often will not be accepted for purchases or exchange.
BEES – thank you, that’s really good hearted of you.
With so much foulness, vile hate, cruelty, racism and lies here, your deeds are a refreshing read!
Immigrants: Doing the jobs Americans won’t do.
Such as marrying Donald Trump.
So much for government efficiency; it’s trump’s version of a military parade, cost be damned:
“WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s military deportation flight to Guatemala on Monday likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant, according to data provided by U.S. and Guatemalan officials.
That is more than five times the $853 cost of a one-way first class ticket on American Airlines from El Paso, Texas, the departure point for the flight, according to a review of publicly available airfares.
It is also significantly higher than the cost of a commercial charter flight by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A U.S. official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, estimated the cost to operate a C-17 military transport aircraft is $28,500 per hour. The flight back and forth to Guatemala, not including time on the ground or any operations to prepare the flight for takeoff, took about 10-1/2 hours in the air to complete, the official said.
Costs for the charter ICE flights vary. According to information posted on ICE’s website in 2021, the cost for “Ice Air” flights is $8,577 per flight hour. But acting ICE Director Tae Johnson told lawmakers during an April 2023 budget hearing that deportation flights cost $17,000 per flight hour for 135 deportees and typically lasted five hours.
The higher figure given by Johnson would translate to a cost of $630 per person, assuming the charter company, and not ICE, pays the cost of the return flight. A former ICE official said the cost had risen slightly since 2023.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-military-deportation-flight-likely-cost-more-than-first-class-2025-01-30/
KAPO – “As I said before, Biden unleashed over 8000 criminals for no reason?” – No, he had reason. About 6500 of those were pardoned for non-violent marijuana convictions. The rest were also either non-violent or at least repentant. The 1500 that Trump released on Day 1 were ALL violent, none were sorry for what they did and most have vowed revenge. Many also had prior convictions for rape, spousal abuse and other assaults. Apples and oranges.
“The laws do not account for the color of your skin, just the your status as a lawfully accepted immigrant – not sure why you have such a hard time accepting reality?” – LOL you’re right! The laws, by themselves, do not usually differentiate between countries of origin, BUT THE ENFORCEMENT DOES.
Easy stuff you seem to be struggling with.
ILLEGALLY ENTERING THIS COUNTRY IS A CRIME
GETTHECHANGEUP – technically, maybe. It’s also a crime to falsify business records, sexually assault women, assault police officers, break into government buildings, defecate on peoples’ desks, threaten to kill the vice president, etc etc etc….. Right? Right.
So let me ask you then – do you also oppose those crimes? I mean, if you voted for Trump, you clearly are OK with the first 2. How about those violent criminals that were released into our communities? You ok with them?
Yes or no.
Technically maybe? This is the easy stuff you struggle with.
Illegal immigration is the topic, you always cry about folks not staying on topic, yet here you go again – Right? Right.