Oxnard residents press council for action after regional ICE raids; city leaders say police not collaborating

Dozens of residents, community organizers and immigration-rights groups used the Oxnard City Council public comment period on June 17 to demand an immediate, tangible response after a wave of ICE enforcement actions in the region. Speakers described what they called “daytime kidnappings” at workplaces and at immigration appointments and asked the city to take steps beyond symbolic statements to protect immigrant residents.

The council heard repeated testimony from VC Defensa, 805 Immigrant, undocuFund volunteers and other local advocates who said volunteer rapid-response teams had been working around the clock to provide “know your rights” information, legal support and transportation for families affected by detentions. “ICE is terrorizing Oxnard,” one caller said, citing a recent case involving a man identified in public comment as Juan Ramirez.

City Manager Alex Nguyen and Police Chief Jason Benitez both told the council in and after public comment that Oxnard has no contract with ICE and that state law separating local policing from federal immigration enforcement remains in effect. The city manager said California’s sanctuary policies mean “our police department does not have any collaboration with ICE.” The statement echoed multiple council members’ remarks encouraging residents to use local rapid-response resources and legal aid partners.

Community lawyers and organizers asked for more than reassurances. Vanessa Valdez of VC Defensa and others pressed the council to meet directly with community organizations, to publicize local legal resources and to seek protocols limiting local data sharing that could be used by federal agents. Several speakers said they had documented incidents they consider constitutional violations — including claims that U.S. citizens were briefly detained — and urged the city to push for stronger county or state-level protections and to coordinate more closely with rapid-response legal teams.

Council members repeatedly told the public they were monitoring the situation and credited community organizers for mobilizing legal support, sharing information and holding protests. Councilwoman Perez said she stood “firmly against these actions” and praised community rapid-response networks and legal advocates for providing services and outreach. Several council members asked staff for updates on resources the city can make available to residents and for reports on partnerships with county agencies and nonprofit legal providers.

What the council can and cannot do was a recurring point. Multiple speakers asked whether Oxnard could bar ICE from using public property or press criminal charges for particular conduct; city staff and the city attorney said the city lacks authority over federal immigration enforcement and emphasized limits on local action. Council members encouraged residents to report incidents to county hotlines, use local legal hotlines and to participate in community-organized monitoring and accompaniment efforts.

No formal council vote or new ordinance was taken June 17. The meeting included public expressions of support for community legal services and repeated staff statements that Oxnard Police are not coordinating enforcement with ICE. Community groups said they will continue rapid-response operations and pressed the council for follow-up steps to make city resources and legal referrals easier to find for residents.

The council’s next steps, based on comments at the meeting, are likely to include (a) posting and amplifying local “know your rights” resources and rapid-response phone numbers on the city website, (b) staff follow‑up about what local services the city can amplify or fund, and (c) continued public updates on county and state channels that relate to immigrant protections. Organizers urged a stricter public posture and asked the council to collaborate in public outreach to reassure students, workers and parents affected by the raids.

Ending: Residents and community organizations said they will continue daily outreach and monitoring and asked the city to make legal and hotline information more visible. City staff reiterated that Oxnard Police are not working with ICE and advised residents to use local rapid‑response and legal resources for immediate assistance.