BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Despite the Border Patrol operation ending and agents moving out of Bakersfield, the area's immigrant community is saying members are far from relieved. Throughout the week, 17 News requested multiple interviews with Border Patrol, but CBP said a statement Friday morning is all they're providing. "I do believe that fear mongering has taken place, and there is real fear within the community," said Bakersfield Vice Mayor and Sikh-Punjabi advocate Manpreet Kaur. US CBP issues statement on ongoing ‘Operation Return to Sender’ in Bakersfield area Kaur said the impacts of these unprecedented operations will last. "Our community also comes to places like the United States in diverse documentation statuses," she noted. Though U.S. Customs and Border Protection -- CBP -- said no members of the Sikh community or anyone from India was arrested in this operation, Kaur said many have stayed home out of fear. "[We've heard about] folks who are volunteers and service members in our different temples whose homes have been visited," she remarked. "We have heard folks who own trucking companies, their truckyards have been visited. We've had also had gas station owners from our community [and their employees] reporting that just everyday people, normal folks, were approached or questioned or even detained." In a statement Friday morning, CBP announced during the three-day operation called "Return to Sender," 78 people -- all here allegedly unlawfully -- were arrested. CBP said the people were from Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Ecuador, Mexico and China. CBP also said the operation targeted those with criminal records -- from raping a minor and trafficking drugs to having DUI convictions. When asked if -- for some -- their only crime was unlawful residence, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David Kim answered that crossing the border and illegally residing in the U.S. is against the law, meaning yes. Kern County community rallies in protest of Border Patrol raids And when asked the 'why now' of the operation -- and if it was approved by the Biden Administration -- Kim said this operation was planned and executed solely by the CBP El Centro branch. 17 News also asked about the future of the 78 arrested. Agent Kim said 77 have been transported the El Centro Sector headquarters in the city of Imperial, though he declined to answer whether they'll face deportation. One individual was sent to Tulare County for extradition, due to an outstanding warrant. As for why the El Centro Sector's agents were in Kern? Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino says its jurisdiction spans from the U.S.-Mexico Border all the way north to the Oregon border. The agency also told 17 News it patrolled Highway 99, Highway 58, as well as Interstate 5, as these are the roads transnational criminal organizations pass through. 17 News also asked about rumors CBP is now headed north to Fresno. Kim responded, "Sounds like a rumor to me." Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW Advocates -- now including Sikh-Punjabi leaders -- emphasized efforts to educate immigrants of their rights will continue. "We'll be hosting an all-Punjabi know your rights workshop here at this temple, at this Gurudwara, which is our Sikh place of worship," Kaur said. "It's also a community center where folks gather… this is really the hub of information and resources." The date of that forum is still to come. Kaur said it will be free, open to everyone and that resources will be provided in English, Punjabi and Spanish.