'This was not a targeted operation': UFW calls out Border Patrol for recent Kern County raids
Jan 16, 2025
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Fears are still running high among the immigrant community in the Central Valley, but the United Farm Workers says its fighting back.
"We don't want to spread panic with this call. We believe that fear itself is one of the worst consequences of this sort of operation," said Antonio De Loera-Brust with United Farm Workers.
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The United Farm Workers Union and Foundation came together to hold a briefing on the information they have about the raids while calling out U.S. Border Patrol for its operations in Kern County.
"We know that this was not a targeted operation as described by Border Patrol Chief," said Ambar Tovar, Director of Legal Services for UFW Foundation.
"What we witnessed and the accounts now of those released individuals that we have been able to communicate with show that this was an operation that was led by racial profiling."
Tovar added that UFW estimates the number of arrests is closer to 200, not 78 as reported Border Patrol.
"Individuals are threatened by immigration officials, they are coerced, they are intimidated into signing their voluntary returns," said Tovar.
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The UFW wants the immigrant community to take this as an opportunity to know their rights and not wait until they are arrested.
"There's often this mistaken belief that only those people who have a criminal history are the ones that are being placed in deportation proceedings, and that is not the case," said Tovar, "Anybody that is not a U.S. citizen can be placed in removal proceedings."
"Just because Border Patrol stops you, doesn't mean it's game over," said De Loera-Brust, "You can hold out for legal process where you have a right to a judge."
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The Punjabi-Sikh community also is coming together and holding a Know Your Rights forum on Sunday with Punjabi translation available.
"This is the first time that they are coming to the Sikh community and we're hosting something at our Gurudwara, at our place of worship," said Manpreet Kaur, Bakersfield Vice Mayor and Councilwoman for Ward 7.
The UFW Foundation is holding Know Your Rights workshops at their offices on H Street every Thursday at 5pm.