Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons demanding answers about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in Ventura County, California. These operations, which took place at a farm in Camarillo, have sparked widespread fear and raised serious concerns about the agency’s tactics, transparency, and adherence to due process.
“The farmworkers detained in these raids are clearly in the United States to fill jobs that employers cannot otherwise fill,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Their undocumented status is not by choice, but a direct result of Congress’ ongoing failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would allow a sufficient number of workers into the country and provide a viable pathway to citizenship. Instead of working to build this pathway, the government is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to deport, in such a cruel and callous way, the exact individuals who would be covered by a comprehensive immigration reform package. Congress refuses to take up comprehensive immigration reform for purely partisan reasons.”
In the letter, Brownley demanded urgent answers about the “legal basis, execution, and impact” of these raids on our community.
“The sudden and ominous nature of ICE’s presence and tactics has sown fear, disrupted lives, and raised serious questions about ICE’s adherence to due process and established policies,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “According to reports and eyewitness accounts, there are significant concerns about the conduct of ICE’s enforcement activities, including potential violations of civil rights and the harmful impact on public trust.”
“As you undoubtedly are aware, these recent ICE actions have had a chilling effect on the entire community, causing fear among families, workers, students, and business owners. Many residents are now afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or seek medical care out of concern for their safety and legal status. Furthermore, such actions erode trust in law enforcement and local government, making it more difficult for authorities to maintain public safety and community cooperation.”
In the letter, Congresswoman Brownley demanded ICE & DHS provide immediate and accurate information on their immigration enforcement activities, including:
- The number of individuals arrested and their current status, including whether any face deportation or expedited removal
- The rationale behind targeting Ventura County and what prompted this enforcement operation
- The locations where detained individuals are being held
- Whether agents entered non-public areas without warrants or consent, and details of any permissions granted
- Whether arrests were made with or without warrants, and if ICE followed federal guidelines for warrantless arrests
- The criteria used to determine whom to question, and whether race, ethnicity, or language were factors
- Whether U.S. citizens, legal residents, DACA recipients, visa holders, or veterans were detained, and how their rights were safeguarded
- What engagement, if any, occurred with local law enforcement, community organizations, or legal aid groups to ensure transparency and due process
- Whether detained individuals have had access to legal counsel or been allowed to notify family members
- The process for family and attorneys to locate, contact, or visit detained individuals
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed receipt of the letter but has yet to provide responses to the questions posed by Congresswoman Brownley. The Department also never responded to Brownley’s prior inquiries on immigration raids earlier in the year in Ventura County.
View the full text of the letter below and here.
The Honorable Kristi Noem
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20528-0525
Mr. Todd M. Lyons
Acting Director
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20536-5010
Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,
I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in my district in Ventura County, California and to seek urgent answers about its legal basis, execution, and impact on our community.
California’s 26th Congressional District is home to a diverse and hard-working population- families, small business owners, service workers, educators, veterans, and farmworkers – who all contribute to the social and economic fabric of Ventura County. While my constituents and I understand the important role ICE plays in protecting our nation from violent criminals, sex traffickers, and gang members, we also believe ICE should focus its resources on deporting those who pose a real danger to the public, not hard working individuals who are making positive contributions to our nation, working in hard-to-fill jobs, paying taxes, and raising their children.
The sudden and ominous nature of ICE’s presence and tactics has sown fear, disrupted lives, and raised serious questions about ICE’s adherence to due process and established policies. According to reports and eyewitness accounts, there are significant concerns about the conduct of ICE’s enforcement activities, including potential violations of civil rights and the harmful impact on public trust.
For months, I have heard from agriculture industry representatives who have contacted my office to express concerns about the impacts of ICE’s activities on farm operations, as farmworkers — who are essential workers — may fear showing up to work. Last month, ICE chased farmworkers through the fields of Oxnard and Santa Paula; and today, the nation watched as ICE officers descended upon a local agricultural grower and rounded up dozens of individuals and deploying tear gas against concerned local residents, who came to protest ICE’s harsh tactics.
In light of these concerns, I am requesting prompt answers to the following questions:
- How many individuals were arrested during ICE’s activities in my district? What is the status of each individual arrested, and are any facing imminent deportation proceedings? Has anyone been placed in expedited removal or administrative removal?
- Why has Ventura County been targeted for ICE’s enforcement tactics? What sparked this sudden effort?
- Where are individuals who were taken being detained?
- Did ICE agents enter non-public areas of businesses or residential buildings? If so, did they have judicial warrants authorizing such access, or was consent obtained? Please provide details on any permissions granted, including by whom and under what circumstances.
- Did ICE have specific arrest warrants for individuals in Ventura County, or were any arrests made without a warrant? If warrantless arrests were made, did ICE comply with the nationwide warrantless arrest policy under the Castanon Nava settlement, including requirements for probable cause and proper documentation?
- What criteria did ICE agents use in determining whom to question? Were race, ethnicity, or language proficiency factors in those decisions? For each person questioned, please specify the justification for their detainment or interrogation.
- Were U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, DACA recipients, visa holders, or veterans among those questioned or detained? If so, how were their rights protected during this operation?
- What measures, if any, were taken to engage with local law enforcement, community organizations, or legal aid groups before or after this action to ensure transparency and due process?
- For individuals detained, how many have had access to legal counsel? How many have been allowed to notify family members and loved ones of their location and reasons for detention?
- What is the process for such notifications, and what is the process for loved ones and legal counsel to visit with or talk to those detained?
As you undoubtedly are aware, these recent ICE actions have had a chilling effect on the entire community, causing fear among families, workers, students, and business owners. Many residents are now afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or seek medical care out of concern for their safety and legal status. Furthermore, such actions erode trust in law enforcement and local government, making it more difficult for authorities to maintain public safety and community cooperation. Targeting hardworking immigrants is also contrary to our values as a nation, as we are a nation made up largely of immigrants whose ancestors all came to the United States to make better lives for themselves and their families.
The 26th Congressional District of California is a vibrant and inclusive region where people of all backgrounds work hard to build better lives for themselves and their families. Actions that instill fear and division harm not only those directly impacted but also the broader social and economic stability of our communities. Given these serious concerns, I request a detailed response to my questions no later than July 18, 2025.
Sincerely,
JULIA BROWNLEY
Member of Congress
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Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration, Local Issues