Activists worry ICE raids imminent despite operations being called off, urge Sonoma County to pass non-collaboration ordinance

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — Fear and questions in Sonoma County’s immigrant community followed this week’s arrival of federal agents in the Bay Area to assist in immigration enforcement. Although the operation appears to have been called off, tensions remain high, with activists calling on county leaders to do more.

An emergency meeting by the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition happened Saturday in the wake of federal Border Patrol agents arriving in the Bay Area this week to assist in ICE operations.

“The reality is the people are so terrified and so full of distress that people aren’t leaving their homes,” said Renee Saucedo.

Saucedo says her community is on edge and calls to immigrant hotlines like the Rapid Response Network are surging. Although it appears the immigration operation has been called off by the president at the urging of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech CEOs from Salesforce and Nvidia, many believe the threat of raids remains.

MORE: Federal agent operations canceled for entire Bay Area, Oakland mayor confirms

Nathan Kempthorne from Petaluma is a military veteran.

“I didn’t survive three war zones to live in one,” Kepthorne said.

I’m not going to allow ICE to come to this place and terrorize my community,” said Esther Kepthorne.

Immigrant rights advocates are posting signs outside of churches, trying to keep ICE agents away. They say they want more action from Sonoma County leaders.

“So we’re calling on our county to do at least as much as other counties have been doing: pass a non-collaboration ordinance. Create ICE-free zones,” Saucedo said.

MORE: Misinformation about federal raids leaves SF immigrant community afraid to leave homes

“In Sonoma County, we stand with our immigrant community,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins.

Hopkins said the county is stepping up to help by proactively working with the sheriff’s office and activating the Department of Emergency Management to prepare for potential impacts on the immigrant community.

“We need to remain vigilant, just because it’s not happening now, doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen in the future. So now is a good time and opportunity to have conversations with the immigrant community and county leadership on how we can prepare,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins says leaders have a scheduled meeting with the Sanctuary Coalition next week.

The group is planning a rally for immigrant rights at the Sonoma County Jail on Thursday.