Federal immigration authorities have launched a massive 45-day crackdown across California, starting in San Diego, as reports of ICE immigration raids surge throughout the region, heightening anxiety within local immigrant communities.
According to the Washington Examiner, citing sources, the operation is titled ‘Operation Safe California’ and kicked off directly in San Diego. Instructions reportedly direct enforcement agents to cast a wide net, including undocumented individuals without prior criminal records. Meanwhile, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not responded to repeated press inquiries regarding the operation.
Local immigrant advocacy groups claim that intensified enforcement is already clearly visible on the ground. Mea Dominguez of the City Heights Defense Committee reported a significant increase in out-of-state license plates and unfamiliar ICE agents, noting that hotline tip calls are coming in every 10 to 15 minutes across San Diego, with City Heights experiencing particularly heavy activity.
Recent social media posts have shared videos of ICE agents operating at various locations, including a parking lot of a home improvement store on Imperial Avenue, a gas station on El Cajon Boulevard, and near a North Park construction site.
The presence of enforcement agents near schools has also amplified fears among students and parents. The San Diego Unified School District reported incidents of suspected ICE personnel approaching students on their way to school. Earlier, a student near Hoover High School was reportedly stopped and asked to present identification by an ICE agent.
City Heights Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera recently led a march protesting school-zone enforcement. He voiced deep concern over the impact on the community, stating that students head to school wondering if their parents will still be home when the day ends.
San Diego immigrant advocacy organizations are actively documenting ICE activities, sharing enforcement alerts with residents, and providing support for families facing detention, while urging the community to remain vigilant amid the recent surge.
