California mayor warns residents to stay indoors amid ongoing ICE raids
Church tells community stay home after ICE raids
The Diocese of San Bernardino is letting parishioners miss weekly Mass because of concerns over ICE raids near churches.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. - The mayor of Perris in Riverside County issued a stern public service announcement to residents as ongoing immigration enforcement operations continue in the area.
What they're saying:
Mayor Michael Vargas posted a video on Facebook warning residents of the ICE activity in Perris.
"The City of Perris has received reports of ongoing ICE operations within the area. We urge all residents to remain calm, stay indoors when possible, and know your rights," Vargas said in a video posted on Facebook.
"Do not go out unless necessary. Stay at home and do not open the door to strangers. This message is for awareness and safety. The City is committed to protecting the dignity and well-being of all our residents. Please stay safe and continue to monitor official city communications," he continued.
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Vargas' message was met with both positive and negative comments from residents.
"Thank you for doing the right thing," one person commented.
"Thank you Mayor Vargas for communicating with the residents of Perris and notifying them of the latest updates and information imperative to them in a crisis," another wrote.
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"We appreciate ICE working towards getting our communities safer by removing illegal criminals… God Bless our federal agents," another comment read.
Local perspective:
Also in the Inland Empire, San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas issued a decree dispensing parishioners from Sunday mass obligations due to fear of immigration enforcement. The move comes amidst ongoing immigration enforcement actions in Southern California, including recent operations in Los Angeles that have drawn criticism and legal challenges.
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Most recently, eight cities including Los Angeles County joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming federal agents' tactics are unconstitutional and instill fear rather than protect the public.
The lawsuit accuses the administration of violating constitutional amendments through immigration raids that involve racial profiling and arrests without warrants or probable cause.
Local leaders criticized the federal agents' aggressive tactics, including a recent operation at MacArthur Park, as threatening public safety and likened them to kidnappings.
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On Monday, a swarm of armed federal agents descended on MacArthur Park in downtown LA, with officials on horseback and in armored vehicles sweeping the park, shutting down a children's summer camp in the process. No one was arrested.
Earlier this month, LAPD officers deployed to downtown after reports of a kidnapping. The kidnapping turned out to be an immigration raid, and led to protests and accusations against the LAPD of assisting federal officers.
After Monday's operation at MacArthur Park, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Gregory Bovino told FOX News, "I don't work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now, 'cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles."
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Meanwhile, Homeland Security officials have denied claims that agents don't identify themselves in the field. In a post on X, DHS responded to California Sen. Alex Padilla introducing a bill that would require ICE agents to be "clearly identifiable," with badges and without face coverings.
The Source: This article draws its information primarily from direct statements and actions by local officials. Mayor Michael Vargas's warning to Perris residents was conveyed via a video posted on his Facebook page, from which direct quotes were taken. Details about the lawsuit against the Trump administration and the tactics of federal agents are sourced from the lawsuit itself, statements from local leaders in Los Angeles County, and previous reporting, including specific quotes from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Gregory Bovino and a post by DHS on X. The decision by San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas to dispense parishioners from Sunday mass obligations is presented as a decree.