Santa Cruz Local is filing ongoing public records requests with all five law enforcement agencies in Santa Cruz County to track when immigration agents have entered the county, including from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or any other agency carrying out immigration enforcement. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local)
We’re tracking immigration enforcement in Santa Cruz County.
Stay informed with the latest data.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY >> Federal immigration agents entered the county at least 24 times since Jan. 25, including three visits last month, according to records of calls to local law enforcement.
As the first year of Donald Trump’s second presidency draws to a close, uncertainty remains about the local effects of a nationwide surge in immigration enforcement. To combat misinformation and fear, Santa Cruz Local is tracking federal immigration enforcement in Santa Cruz County with records of “courtesy calls” to local law enforcement.
Federal law enforcement will often, but not always, give a heads up when operations are planned to avoid potentially dangerous confusion if the agents are unknown to local police.
Santa Cruz Local is filing ongoing public records requests with all five law enforcement agencies in Santa Cruz County to keep track of these notifications from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or any other agency carrying out immigration enforcement. This tracker will be updated as records are provided.
What the records show
ICE visited Watsonville, the City of Santa Cruz, and areas of the county outside of cities eight times each between Jan. 25 and Oct. 25 this year, according to notifications to local law enforcement. Most notifications were in the early morning, between 5 and 5:30 a.m., and often ICE reported they were leaving the area by 10 a.m. Customs and Border Protection, the agency that includes border patrol, did not report any activity in the county.
Local law enforcement officials have said they do not cooperate with immigration enforcement and California law prohibits any such collaboration.
ICE officials often went to the same address multiple times, and said they were surveilling the area. On some occasions, separate teams of agents visited different areas of the county on the same day. The records don’t include information about who ICE is looking for, or if they arrested or detained anyone. Officials may have visited without notifying local law enforcement.
Agents were in groups of two to seven, with two to four cars. The cars range in make and model, but were often Hyundai, Nissan or Dodge models.
What to do if you see immigration enforcement or reports of immigration activity
- Do not post or repost unverified information on social media. Misinformation can cause unnecessary fear.
- Save the phone number for Your Allied Rapid Response (YARR) to report potential sightings of immigration officials or for emergency assistance if you or a loved one is detained. Call (831) 239-4289 for sightings or detentions in Santa Cruz County. The phone line is available in Spanish and English 24/7.
- Monterey County has a rapid response hotline to report possible sightings of immigration officials in Monterey or San Benito counties at (831) 643-5225. See the American Civil Liberties Union for other counties.
- Follow YARR on Facebook and Instagram to learn about verified sightings in Santa Cruz County.
How to support immigrants in Santa Cruz County
- Get involved in Your Allied Rapid Response efforts to verify reports of immigration enforcement.
- Donate to Community Bridges’ Puentes Para Familias emergency fund for immigrant families facing immigration detention or arrest.
- Donate to the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County’s fund for multiple immigration services nonprofits.
- Print or order Red Cards to distribute know-your-rights information. Santa Cruz Local is able to distribute limited amounts of these cards in Spanish, email [email protected] to place a request.
How to prepare for immigration enforcement
Know your rights.
If approached by immigration enforcement:
- You have the right to remain silent.
- You do not have to open your door for immigration officials or law enforcement unless presented with a judicial warrant — that means it’s signed by a judge.
- You have the right to see a lawyer before signing documents, although if arrested by immigration enforcement you do not have the right to a public defender.
- Businesses have a right to decline immigration officers access to private areas, unless the agents have a judicial warrant.
Make a plan.
- People at risk of immigration enforcement can plan for possible arrest, detention or deportation.
- Memorize the phone number for an emergency contact, like a family member or attorney.
- Ensure emergency contacts have your immigration number (A-number) to help find you if you are detained or arrested. An ICE locator can search for detainees by name or immigration number, but the information may be delayed.
- Make sure a trusted friend or family number has copies of your documents in case of detention.
- Parents can fill out a child care safety plan with details of who will care for their children in case a parent is arrested, deported or otherwise needs help.
Review our full ICE tracker, it will be updated each month.
See more information on immigration resources and legal help on Santa Cruz Local’s immigrant resource page.
What do you think?
Questions or comments? Email [email protected]. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.
Jesse Kathan is a staff reporter for Santa Cruz Local. They hold a master's degree in science communications from UC Santa Cruz.
