FELS’ Sacramento office has received calls from subscribers and clients in recent days with reports of various types of apparently immigration-related enforcement activities. In one case, on July 15 an employee was detained at the county courthouse during or shortly after participating in a “check-in” hearing as part of his participation in an incarceration diversion program. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Northern California, incidents have occurred of unknown vehicles like vans and SUVs being misidentified as belonging to either Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol.

Activity was also reported in Sacramento County on July 17; per a news release from the office of Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper: Earlier this morning at approximately 7:47 AM, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Communications Center received an incomplete 911 call from an individual stating that a group of armed and masked people were in the parking lot of Home Depot on Florin Road. Deputies responded and found the parking lot clear, but were waved down by another individual who stated her husband had possibly been arrested. At approximately 7:51 AM, our Communications Center was advised by the United States Border Patrol that they were conducting enforcement action in the area. Although not required, it is common practice for outside law enforcement agencies to advise local jurisdictions when they conduct enforcement activities outside their normal areas of operation. At approximately 7:57 AM, our Communications Center received a 911 call from a resident of the 4500 block of A Parkway, stating that a neighbor had asked him to call 911 because someone was breaking into his residence. Deputies responded to the residence and learned it was Border Patrol conducting enforcement operations. At no time did the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office assist with any immigration enforcement. California law enforcement agencies are legally prohibited from doing so per state law, (SB 54) and the Sheriff’s Office does not serve as an immigration enforcement agency. Our Deputies remain committed to protecting all residents of Sacramento County, and we strongly encourage anyone to report crimes or suspicious activity, regardless of the citizenship or immigration status.

Obviously, reports of such activities may cause anxiety for agricultural employers and employees as we move into our heavy California harvest seasons, particularly in the Central Valley. FELS Newsletter subscribers can avail themselves of resources to be prepared for these situations at FELS Resources: Immigration & Hiring, including information about agricultural employee services from the California Farmworker Foundation, the Immigration Legal Resource Center and the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, tips for dealing with immigration agencies, FELS’ free “Stop” sign informing law enforcement agencies they do not have blanket permission to enter your premises and providing contact information to gain cooperation, and information on accessing the H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program through out partners at Worker and Farmer Labor Association.

Also, don’t miss upcoming FELS webinars on California Farmworker Foundation services for agricultural employees, including civil services for immigration matters, and with Worker and Farmer Labor Association on preparedness for I-9 audits. You can learn more at FELS Webinars.