By Sergio Olmos
January 10, 2025
Farmworkers work on a field outside of Bakersfield in Kern County on July 25 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
Lea esta historia en Español
Acres of orange fields sat unpicked in Kern County this week as word of Border Patrol raids circulated through Messenger chats and images of federal agents detaining laborers spread on local Facebook groups.
The Border Patrol conducted unannounced raids throughout Bakersfield on Tuesday, descending on businesses where day laborers and field workers gather. Agents in unmarked SUVs rounded up people in vans outside a Home Depot and gas station that serves a breakfast popular with field workers.
This appears to be the first large-scale Border Patrol raid in California since the election of Donald Trump, coming just a day after Congress certified the election on January 6, in the final days of Joe Biden’s presidency. The panic and confusion, for both immigrants and local businesses that rely on their labor, foreshadow what awaits communities across California if Trump follows through on his promise to conduct mass deportations.
“It was profiling, it was purely field workers,” said Sara Fuentes, store manager of the local gas station. Fuentes said that at 9 a.m., when the store typically gets a rush of workers on their way to pick oranges, two men in civilian clothes and unmarked Suburbans started detaining people outside the store. “They didn’t stop people with FedEx uniforms, they were stopping people who looked like they worked in the fields.” Fuentes says one customer pulled in just to pump gas and agents approached him and detained him.
Fuentes has lived in Bakersfield all her life and says she’s never seen anything like it. In one instance, she said a man and woman drove up to the store together, and the man went inside. Border Patrol detained the man as he walked out, Fuentes said, and then demanded the woman get out of the vehicle. When she refused, another agency parked his vehicle behind the woman, blocking her car. Fuentes said it wasn’t until the local Univision station showed up that Border Patrol agents backed up their car and allowed the woman to leave.
Video courtesy of Sara Fuentes
Fuentes says none of the regular farm workers showed up to buy breakfast on Wednesday morning. “No field workers at all,” she said.
Growers and agricultural leaders in California and across the nation have warned that Trump’s promised mass deportations will disrupt the nation’s food supply, leading to shortages and higher prices. In Kern County this week, just the word of the deportations inspired workers to stay away from the fields.
“People are freaked out, people are worried, people are planning on staying home the next couple of days,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust, director of communication for the United Farm Workers. De Loera-Brust said the Border Patrol detained at least one UFW member in Kern County as they “traveled between home and work.”
Videos shared in local Facebook groups and Instagram pages show Border Patrol agents pulling over vehicles along the 99 Highway on Tuesday and Wednesday in Bakersfield.
“They were stopping cars at random, asking people for papers. They were going to gas stations and Home Depot where day laborers gather,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust. “It’s provoking intense anxiety and a lot of fear in the community.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond to a request for comment. On social media, Gregory K. Bovino, the Border Patrol chief in El Centro, called the sweeps “Operation Return to Sender.”
“We are taking it to the bad people and bad things in Bakersfield,” the El Centro Border Patrol said in response to a comment on its Facebook page. “We are planning operations for other locals (sic) such as Fresno and especially Sacramento.”
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection patch on the uniform of an agent in the Jacumba mountains in Imperial County on Oct. 6, 2022. Photo by Allison Dinner, AFP via Getty Images
It’s unclear how many people have been detained by Border Patrol or how long the operation would last.
“We’re in the middle of our citrus harvesting. This sent shockwaves through the entire community,” said Casey Creamer, president of the industry group California Citrus Mutual, on Thursday. “People aren’t going to work and kids aren’t going to school. Yesterday about 25% of the workforce, today 75% didn’t show up.”
He pushed back on the Border Patrol’s claims they’re targeting bad people. He said they appeared to be general sweeps of workers.
“If this is the new normal, this is absolute economic devastation,” said Richard S. Gearhart, an associate professor of economics at Cal State-Bakersfield.
In the short term, he predicted farms and dairies could make up the losses, but that homebuilders, restaurants and small businesses would be most hurt financially.
But he’s worried about the long-term.
“You are talking about a recession-level event if this is the new long-term norm,” he said.
Agriculture comprises about 10 percent of Kern County’s gross domestic product and undocumented workers may comprise half of the workforce, he said. And the Central Valley provides about a quarter of the United States’ food.
“So, you WILL see, in the long run, food inflation and food shortages,” he wrote in a text message.
He predicted immigrants, even ones with documents, would stop shopping, going to school and seeking health care.
“So, this could have some serious deleterious long run impacts beyond lost farm productivity. Losses in education and health would be catastrophic,” he said. “Basically, you know how Kern County complains about oil? This event would be analogous to shutting down oil production. Economic catastrophe.”
For the record: The first paragraph of this story has been updated to reflect that orange fields went unpicked. The original version referred to grape fields. However, this time of year, grape fields are being pruned, not picked.
Source (Archive)
Posted: Jan 8, 2025 / 05:39 PM PST
Updated: Jan 9, 2025 / 07:59 AM PST
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Completely empty, even through the lunch rush…even the heart of the Hispanic community, Mercado Latino, received a visit from a Border Patrol unit on Wednesday.
“As you can see, it’s completely lonely, it’s…nobody’s here,” said General Manager of Mercado Latino, Miguel Flores.
Flores said around 30% of businesses closed on Wednesday.
Flores says he asked Border Patrol Agents why they were there in the first place.
“Well, his answer was a very dumb answer, he said ‘Oh, we are looking for Walmart’,” said Flores.
A nearby Chevron saw a significant drop in business a day after it was raided by Border Patrol Agents.
“Today business was horrible, no field workers at all, maybe like, around, I would say that I counted myself that I’d seen three,” said Sara Fuentes, Manager of Chevron.
Now, Fuentes is being targeted by angry community members.
“We started receiving calls today, they’re harassing us for what we did yesterday,” she said. “That we were against it because we called the media.”
Community members say they’re still at a loss as to why Border Patrol would be in Kern County.
“No, I do not want Border Patrol here,” said RJ Vasquez, Bakersfield native. “The border is 400 miles away, or however many miles away, there’s no reason they should be in Kern County.”
As many seek answers and fear for their future, staff at Mercado Latino look to maintain the safe space for Latinos.
“We are here with our security, just to protect our property and protect our people,” said Flores.
The Hispanic community in Kern County as united as ever.
“I think it’s doing a lot more damage than it is…I don’t think it’s going any good, first of all,” said RJ Vasquez. “I think it’s doing a lot of damage.”
Source (Archive)
Posted 1 hour and 41 minutes ago
Photo by: SAM HOYLE / 23ABC
Hundreds of Kern residents gather in Bakersfield to protest Border Patrol operation
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Several hundred Kern County residents gathered at the corner of Ming Ave. and Wible Road to protest Border Patrol's three-day operation dubbed 'Return to Sender'
In the wake of Border Patrol activities here in Kern County, residents from all over have gathered here at the corner of Ming and Wible to protest border patrol's operation. I'm Sam Hoyle, your neighborhood reporter. We spoke with residents from all over to get their thoughts on why they came out to support the efforts.
It was a strong turnout Friday morning on the corner of Ming Ave. and Wible Road near Valley Plaza. For some, the purpose of standing and waving signs admonishing Border Patrol's operation dubbed 'return to sender' was a personal one, such as Janette Ramos, who immigrated to the US as a child.
"I think standing together and showing support for, you know, the people that can't come out here, because there are a lot of people that are scared. I went to the store the other day and I saw it was empty. So I mean that just kind of goes to show how people are frightened, you know, and wanting to stay so the people that can't come out here, you know, and advocate for themselves. These people were here to – to kind of do that in support," said Ramos.
Karla Blue was also among the hundreds at the demonstration. She too, immigrated to the US and was standing in solidarity with those who may not have the ability to maintain a legal status in the US.
"They're quick to say, hey, fix your papers, and they don't understand that it's not an easy process. It takes years. I came here when I was six, and I did not get my citizenship until my junior year of high school. It took my parents that long, and at what point was I never illegal, thankfully, because my parents did what they had to do, to keep putting in paperwork, to keep putting in paperwork, and that took 1000s of dollars, and that wasn't easy. My parents had support, and they were lucky. But not everyone is that fortunate," said Blue.
Evelyn Dominguez, another protester, noted the lack of information that was disseminated from official sources throughout the Border Patrol's operation, brings uncertainty for whatever else may come once Donald Trump assumes the presidency.
"It brings fear, not only to know that there's people that I know that are being affected by this, but also, like the younger youth, not knowing whether or not their parents are going to be able to come home after they come home from school. So it definitely brings fear, but it also influences me to want to continue to stay educated, to show up to places where people are teaching us how to maneuver through this again, so we're able to be a voice for the people that have no direction or feel like they have no direction," said Dominguez.
Though it appears that Border Patrol's operation here in Kern County has come to a close, the rapid response network said they will continue to hold Know Your Rights workshops going forward.
Source (Archive)
Posted: Jan 10, 2025 / 09:50 AM PST
Updated: Jan 10, 2025 / 10:33 AM PST
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement Friday morning providing more details over its ongoing operation in the Bakersfield area this week the agency calls “Operation Return to Sender.”
Throughout the week, 17 News requested interviews with the agency over its operation in the Bakersfield area but was provided a statement stating its operation took place over three days and led to 78 arrests. U.S. CBP said it would not provide further statements.
The agency said it arrested people unlawfully in the U.S. from Central, South America and China.
According to the statement, Border Patrol had 60 agents in the area focusing on alleged drug and human traffickers. Agents were on patrol in marked and unmarked vehicles, officials said.
CBP highlighted agents arrested people previously convicted of crimes including sex offenses, drug possession, child abuse, spousal abuse and DUI. Agents seized marijuana and methamphetamine during the operation, the statement said.
Border Patrol officials said it is “no stranger” to operating in the Central Valley and its work may send agents all the way to the California-Oregon state line.
Read the full U.S. Customs and Border Protection statement below:
Source (Archive)
January 10, 2025
Farmworkers work on a field outside of Bakersfield in Kern County on July 25 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
Lea esta historia en Español
Acres of orange fields sat unpicked in Kern County this week as word of Border Patrol raids circulated through Messenger chats and images of federal agents detaining laborers spread on local Facebook groups.
The Border Patrol conducted unannounced raids throughout Bakersfield on Tuesday, descending on businesses where day laborers and field workers gather. Agents in unmarked SUVs rounded up people in vans outside a Home Depot and gas station that serves a breakfast popular with field workers.
This appears to be the first large-scale Border Patrol raid in California since the election of Donald Trump, coming just a day after Congress certified the election on January 6, in the final days of Joe Biden’s presidency. The panic and confusion, for both immigrants and local businesses that rely on their labor, foreshadow what awaits communities across California if Trump follows through on his promise to conduct mass deportations.
“It was profiling, it was purely field workers,” said Sara Fuentes, store manager of the local gas station. Fuentes said that at 9 a.m., when the store typically gets a rush of workers on their way to pick oranges, two men in civilian clothes and unmarked Suburbans started detaining people outside the store. “They didn’t stop people with FedEx uniforms, they were stopping people who looked like they worked in the fields.” Fuentes says one customer pulled in just to pump gas and agents approached him and detained him.
Fuentes has lived in Bakersfield all her life and says she’s never seen anything like it. In one instance, she said a man and woman drove up to the store together, and the man went inside. Border Patrol detained the man as he walked out, Fuentes said, and then demanded the woman get out of the vehicle. When she refused, another agency parked his vehicle behind the woman, blocking her car. Fuentes said it wasn’t until the local Univision station showed up that Border Patrol agents backed up their car and allowed the woman to leave.
Video courtesy of Sara Fuentes
Fuentes says none of the regular farm workers showed up to buy breakfast on Wednesday morning. “No field workers at all,” she said.
Growers and agricultural leaders in California and across the nation have warned that Trump’s promised mass deportations will disrupt the nation’s food supply, leading to shortages and higher prices. In Kern County this week, just the word of the deportations inspired workers to stay away from the fields.
“People are freaked out, people are worried, people are planning on staying home the next couple of days,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust, director of communication for the United Farm Workers. De Loera-Brust said the Border Patrol detained at least one UFW member in Kern County as they “traveled between home and work.”
Videos shared in local Facebook groups and Instagram pages show Border Patrol agents pulling over vehicles along the 99 Highway on Tuesday and Wednesday in Bakersfield.
“They were stopping cars at random, asking people for papers. They were going to gas stations and Home Depot where day laborers gather,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust. “It’s provoking intense anxiety and a lot of fear in the community.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond to a request for comment. On social media, Gregory K. Bovino, the Border Patrol chief in El Centro, called the sweeps “Operation Return to Sender.”
“We are taking it to the bad people and bad things in Bakersfield,” the El Centro Border Patrol said in response to a comment on its Facebook page. “We are planning operations for other locals (sic) such as Fresno and especially Sacramento.”
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection patch on the uniform of an agent in the Jacumba mountains in Imperial County on Oct. 6, 2022. Photo by Allison Dinner, AFP via Getty Images
It’s unclear how many people have been detained by Border Patrol or how long the operation would last.
“We’re in the middle of our citrus harvesting. This sent shockwaves through the entire community,” said Casey Creamer, president of the industry group California Citrus Mutual, on Thursday. “People aren’t going to work and kids aren’t going to school. Yesterday about 25% of the workforce, today 75% didn’t show up.”
He pushed back on the Border Patrol’s claims they’re targeting bad people. He said they appeared to be general sweeps of workers.
“If this is the new normal, this is absolute economic devastation,” said Richard S. Gearhart, an associate professor of economics at Cal State-Bakersfield.
In the short term, he predicted farms and dairies could make up the losses, but that homebuilders, restaurants and small businesses would be most hurt financially.
But he’s worried about the long-term.
“You are talking about a recession-level event if this is the new long-term norm,” he said.
Agriculture comprises about 10 percent of Kern County’s gross domestic product and undocumented workers may comprise half of the workforce, he said. And the Central Valley provides about a quarter of the United States’ food.
“So, you WILL see, in the long run, food inflation and food shortages,” he wrote in a text message.
He predicted immigrants, even ones with documents, would stop shopping, going to school and seeking health care.
“So, this could have some serious deleterious long run impacts beyond lost farm productivity. Losses in education and health would be catastrophic,” he said. “Basically, you know how Kern County complains about oil? This event would be analogous to shutting down oil production. Economic catastrophe.”
For the record: The first paragraph of this story has been updated to reflect that orange fields went unpicked. The original version referred to grape fields. However, this time of year, grape fields are being pruned, not picked.
Source (Archive)
‘Nobody’s here’: Business dips at Mercado Latino amid Border Patrol operation
by: Cecilia TreviñoPosted: Jan 8, 2025 / 05:39 PM PST
Updated: Jan 9, 2025 / 07:59 AM PST
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Completely empty, even through the lunch rush…even the heart of the Hispanic community, Mercado Latino, received a visit from a Border Patrol unit on Wednesday.
“As you can see, it’s completely lonely, it’s…nobody’s here,” said General Manager of Mercado Latino, Miguel Flores.
Flores said around 30% of businesses closed on Wednesday.
Flores says he asked Border Patrol Agents why they were there in the first place.
“Well, his answer was a very dumb answer, he said ‘Oh, we are looking for Walmart’,” said Flores.
A nearby Chevron saw a significant drop in business a day after it was raided by Border Patrol Agents.
“Today business was horrible, no field workers at all, maybe like, around, I would say that I counted myself that I’d seen three,” said Sara Fuentes, Manager of Chevron.
Now, Fuentes is being targeted by angry community members.
“We started receiving calls today, they’re harassing us for what we did yesterday,” she said. “That we were against it because we called the media.”
Community members say they’re still at a loss as to why Border Patrol would be in Kern County.
“No, I do not want Border Patrol here,” said RJ Vasquez, Bakersfield native. “The border is 400 miles away, or however many miles away, there’s no reason they should be in Kern County.”
As many seek answers and fear for their future, staff at Mercado Latino look to maintain the safe space for Latinos.
“We are here with our security, just to protect our property and protect our people,” said Flores.
The Hispanic community in Kern County as united as ever.
“I think it’s doing a lot more damage than it is…I don’t think it’s going any good, first of all,” said RJ Vasquez. “I think it’s doing a lot of damage.”
Source (Archive)
Hundreds of Kern residents gather in Bakersfield to protest Border Patrol operation
By: Sam HoylePosted 1 hour and 41 minutes ago
Photo by: SAM HOYLE / 23ABC
Hundreds of Kern residents gather in Bakersfield to protest Border Patrol operation
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Several hundred Kern County residents gathered at the corner of Ming Ave. and Wible Road to protest Border Patrol's three-day operation dubbed 'Return to Sender'
- 23ABC spoke with many protesters who noted they were gathering in solidarity for those who were scared by the Border Patrol's operation, with some saying they were fearful of the future.
- The protest stretched across several corners of the intersection with protesters setting up a banner that could be seen from the Ming Ave. overpass on the northbound side of the 99 freeway.
- While Operation 'Return to Sender' appears to be over, the Rapid Response Network said they plan on continuing to hold 'know your rights' events throughout the county.
In the wake of Border Patrol activities here in Kern County, residents from all over have gathered here at the corner of Ming and Wible to protest border patrol's operation. I'm Sam Hoyle, your neighborhood reporter. We spoke with residents from all over to get their thoughts on why they came out to support the efforts.
It was a strong turnout Friday morning on the corner of Ming Ave. and Wible Road near Valley Plaza. For some, the purpose of standing and waving signs admonishing Border Patrol's operation dubbed 'return to sender' was a personal one, such as Janette Ramos, who immigrated to the US as a child.
"I think standing together and showing support for, you know, the people that can't come out here, because there are a lot of people that are scared. I went to the store the other day and I saw it was empty. So I mean that just kind of goes to show how people are frightened, you know, and wanting to stay so the people that can't come out here, you know, and advocate for themselves. These people were here to – to kind of do that in support," said Ramos.
Karla Blue was also among the hundreds at the demonstration. She too, immigrated to the US and was standing in solidarity with those who may not have the ability to maintain a legal status in the US.
"They're quick to say, hey, fix your papers, and they don't understand that it's not an easy process. It takes years. I came here when I was six, and I did not get my citizenship until my junior year of high school. It took my parents that long, and at what point was I never illegal, thankfully, because my parents did what they had to do, to keep putting in paperwork, to keep putting in paperwork, and that took 1000s of dollars, and that wasn't easy. My parents had support, and they were lucky. But not everyone is that fortunate," said Blue.
Evelyn Dominguez, another protester, noted the lack of information that was disseminated from official sources throughout the Border Patrol's operation, brings uncertainty for whatever else may come once Donald Trump assumes the presidency.
"It brings fear, not only to know that there's people that I know that are being affected by this, but also, like the younger youth, not knowing whether or not their parents are going to be able to come home after they come home from school. So it definitely brings fear, but it also influences me to want to continue to stay educated, to show up to places where people are teaching us how to maneuver through this again, so we're able to be a voice for the people that have no direction or feel like they have no direction," said Dominguez.
Though it appears that Border Patrol's operation here in Kern County has come to a close, the rapid response network said they will continue to hold Know Your Rights workshops going forward.
Source (Archive)
US CBP issues statement on ongoing ‘Operation Return to Sender’ in Bakersfield area
by: Jose Franco, Jenny HuhPosted: Jan 10, 2025 / 09:50 AM PST
Updated: Jan 10, 2025 / 10:33 AM PST
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement Friday morning providing more details over its ongoing operation in the Bakersfield area this week the agency calls “Operation Return to Sender.”
Throughout the week, 17 News requested interviews with the agency over its operation in the Bakersfield area but was provided a statement stating its operation took place over three days and led to 78 arrests. U.S. CBP said it would not provide further statements.
The agency said it arrested people unlawfully in the U.S. from Central, South America and China.
According to the statement, Border Patrol had 60 agents in the area focusing on alleged drug and human traffickers. Agents were on patrol in marked and unmarked vehicles, officials said.
CBP highlighted agents arrested people previously convicted of crimes including sex offenses, drug possession, child abuse, spousal abuse and DUI. Agents seized marijuana and methamphetamine during the operation, the statement said.
Border Patrol officials said it is “no stranger” to operating in the Central Valley and its work may send agents all the way to the California-Oregon state line.
Read the full U.S. Customs and Border Protection statement below:
-David Kim, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent, El Centro Sector
Source (Archive)
NOOo the police stole my 30.01 pounds of medical marijuana! I need that for muh bad back.
