Protest Targets ICE Raids in Sonoma County

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Dozens of protesters took to the steps of the Sonoma County Courthouse Tuesday morning to protest what they call illegal and inhumane raids across the county conducted by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

In the past week, ICE agents arrested two men at the county courthouse, ignoring a state law that prohibits immigration arrests at county courthouses statewide. In addition, agents blocked off a Santa Rosa street while pursuing another arrest but then left after the subject refused to leave a home where he was living.

Tuesday’s protest was organized by the Graton Day Labor Center, and included representatives from Sonoma County’s immigrant community, and their supporters.

Speakers denounced the tactics of ICE teams, and pledged to put pressure on local and state elected officials to do more to protect the immigrant community in Sonoma County.

ICE agents have begun stepped up enforcement of immigration laws across California, and some believe that state and local communities are being targeted by the Trump Administration due to their sanctuary and pro-immigrant policies, including declining to work with federal agents to make arrests.