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Residents urge Riverside council to demand identification from federal immigration agents
Summary
Immigrant-rights advocates and residents urged the council to place a resolution on the September agenda requiring federal immigration agents to identify themselves; speakers cited a recent federal settlement and widespread fear among Latino residents.
Multiple public speakers urged the City of Riverside to adopt a local resolution requiring transparency from federal immigration agents operating in the city.
Natalia Saca, an attorney with a regional immigrant-rights coalition, told the council that residents lose trust when immigration agents do not clearly identify themselves, and cited a recent federal-court approval of a settlement as context for a local resolution. Saca asked the council to add a resolution to the September agenda that would require identification by federal agents working locally and to provide clarity to residents.
Chris Vázquez and other callers recounted family trauma and community fear linked to immigration enforcement. Janet Bernabé (calling in) described frontline work with immigrant communities and said the lack of consistent identification by some individuals who claim to be federal agents has caused confusion and terror for residents; she urged the council to act to restore public confidence.
Council members acknowledged the request and staff indicated the resolution would be calendared for public discussion in September so residents could comment formally during an agenda item.
Representative quotes from the public record capture the tenor of the comments and the request for a formal council action.
