Local congressional representatives demand answers about ICE activity on Army jurisdiction.

After receiving reports of immigration enforcement on federal land in South Monterey County, U.S. representatives Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, and Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, sent a letter on Feb. 12 to U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll and Kristi Noem, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, demanding information on any DHS and Department of Defense activity on or near Fort Hunter Liggett.

“The protection of our civilian and military communities is of utmost importance, and we request your assistance with providing answers to the questions outlined below, no later than Feb. 27, 2026,” the letter states. (You can read it in its entirety below.)

According to Lofgren and Panetta, as of Feb. 6, there isn’t a formal agreement or arrangement between DHS and DoD to use Fort Hunter Liggett. They add that they have received multiple reports of military police stopping drivers along Jolon Road and turned over to ICE if they present a foreign or out-of-state driver’s license.

“These stops appear to have exceeded routine traffic or public safety enforcement and instead served immigration enforcement purposes. Local officials in Monterey County report they were not notified in advance of these operations,” the letter adds.

Some drivers who frequent the area have reported they've been stopped by military police at Fort Hunter Liggett, noting that they feel they've been racially profiled. 

Local law enforcement and the Monterey County Solidarity Network, a volunteer group that tracks immigration enforcement, have reported that ICE has been active in South Monterey County. The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed at least one detention on federal property, while the Solidarity Network reports that at least eight people have been detained. 

On Feb. 2, in response to immigration enforcement activity on federal areas and limited awareness of federal land or joint jurisdiction, the County of Monterey shared a map and a list of roads across Monterey County that are under federal control, including Army bases and recreational areas such as Los Padres National Forest and Fort Ord National Monument. 

In an email on Feb. 4, a Fort Hunter Liggett spokesperson wrote that the Army police conduct routine stops, including speeding and lighting issues, to ensure public safety.

“Fort Hunter Liggett does not conduct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, nor do we have authority to tell ICE where they can operate," the spokesperson wrote.

Lofgren and Panetta also note that the military has restrictions for enforcing civil law and allowing the use of military installations for this purpose. The local representatives included a series of questions in their letter asking whether DoD personnel have been involved in immigration operations, whether the military police are legally authorized to enforce immigration and whether FHL would act as a detention facility.

ICE did not respond to an inquiry seeking comment as of press time.

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