Following immigration detentions, county officials issue an advisory urging caution on federal land.

The video circulating on social media shows a man’s face as he addresses the camera in Spanish, warning fishermen to avoid federal roads while going to Lake San Antonio in South Monterey County. He says he is in the Tijuana airport waiting for a flight to Guerrero; he says he was detained in South County by a U.S. Army soldier, then later handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leading to his deportation. He says at least seven others experienced the same.

While the Weekly has been unable to independently confirm his account, his story aligns with other reports of federal law enforcement contacts on federal lands that led to immigration enforcement on a stretch of Jolon Road through the U.S. Army’s Fort Hunter Liggett.

Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez addressed the issue during a board meeting on Jan. 27, noting that residents might not even be aware they are traveling onto federal land. “The thought that my kids would be torn for me simply for having chosen to take them fishing with a broken taillight is absolutely horrendous,” Lopez said.

Sheriff Tina Nieto says, “We have had ICE activity in our South County area on federal properties,” noting the sheriff doesn’t have primary jurisdiction on federal lands.

In an emailed statement, a Fort Hunter Liggett spokesperson writes, "The Fort Hunter Liggett Police Department conducts routine traffic stops as needed to ensure the safety of our community. These stops may address issues such as speeding or vehicle safety checks, including non-functioning headlights. 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 Weekly has filed a U.S. Freedom of Information Act request seeking additional information from the Army.)

Since December, the volunteer group Monterey County Solidarity Network, which tracks immigration enforcement, reported that at least eight Monterey County residents have been detained or turned over to ICE in South Monterey County, including one on Jolon Road on Jan. 16 and at least 15 more near Lake San Antonio on Dec. 30 and 31 (eight were San Luis Obispo residents).

On Monday, Feb. 2, the County of Monterey shared an interactive map and a list of federally managed areas across the county. The county statement, issued by an ad hoc committee appointed to address immigration issues, urges the public to be aware of the jurisdiction and follow all laws. It suggests that before visiting, people should: “Check which agency manages the land; Review rules and regulations; Respect closures, fire restrictions, and safety notices; Consider avoiding these areas entirely.”

Various areas across Monterey County are multi-jurisdictional, meaning different agencies may conduct traffic stops or conduct law enforcement investigations. People may be subject to different laws when on federal land. For example, possession of recreational or medicinal marijuana is illegal in national parks, post offices and federal buildings, although it is legal for adults 21 and older in California. People could also be subject to immigration enforcement.

The county’s list includes Fort Hunter Liggett, Camp Roberts, Fort Ord National Monument, Naval Postgraduate School, Los Padres National Forest, Pinnacles National Park and more.

U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, says her staff is in touch with local authorities and gathering information about this matter. “I’m committed to ensuring all federal agents are following the law,” Lofgren says via email.