A law enforcement operation in Pajaro causes panic during a time of heightened fear.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about how our community is doing. Fear, rumors and chaos have consumed the everyday lives for many over the past few days, after the federal immigration raids that happened in Camarillo and Carpinteria on July 10. 

Since then, rumors about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sightings near stores and hotels in Monterey County have increased. 

This morning, July 16, a regular enforcement operation at a cannabis farm conducted by the California Department of Cannabis Control and others in Pajaro further sparked confusion and panic. (Rumors of an ICE raid in Greenfield were also debunked today.)

People saw a helicopter surveilling the area and dozens of agents wearing green uniforms, leading many to think that it was an ICE operation.

Calls reporting the incident triggered deployments of volunteers from the Rapid Response Networks in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.

“We need verification of a possible ICE raid at 1492 San Juan in Pajaro…Text if you can go,” read the text notification for volunteers in Monterey at 7:19am. 

Thirteen minutes later, the Solidarity Network confirmed there was some type of law enforcement operation and it encouraged observers to go and document the event. “We fear this is the same type of enforcement that happened in Camarillo,” the text read. 

Earlier posts from Migra Watch Costa Central stated it was an ICE raid but later on it was detracted, saying it was a state operation searching an illegal cannabis farm. “I’m still observing to be sure!” the volunteer said in Spanish.

This confusion reminded me of when a Homeland Security Vehicle outside of the Social Security Administration in Salinas caused turmoil in March and many thought it was an ICE vehicle, which turned out not to be the case.

Volunteers who show up to document or confirm/deny rumors aren’t experts on law enforcement’s apparel, which can make it harder to identify who it is and what type of operation it is. What makes it even harder is that ICE agents may show up wearing a vest that says “Police,” plain clothes or a green uniform. 

While local and state law enforcement conduct their everyday operations and move on with their day once they're done, the daily routines and livelihood of residents are being impacted emotionally and financially—farmworkers in Greenfield and Pajaro, for example, ended their workday early due to the rumors.

While law enforcement has stressed the importance of continuing with their regular operations, I do wonder what these agencies are doing regionally to make sure they bring order and not feed into the ruckus we are already experiencing.

The uptick in ICE’s targeted detentions and the recent raids have impacted us in many ways. Many of us know someone in our community who is undocumented. It could be oneself, a family member, a friend—so the thought that maybe one of us won’t make it home isn’t far-fetched. 

If you want to share your experience, please reach out to me. I’m one email away.