Protesters outside of Fresno ICE office oppose recent immigration enforcement
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fresno residents staged a protest outside Fresno ICE office
- Demonstrators cited due process violations and family separations as concerns.
- Organizers urged local officials to publicly support immigrant rights and protections.
About two dozen people gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Fresno to protest recent immigration enforcement activity, holding signs that read, “ICE melts under resistance” and “Dump Trump, Melt ICE.”
The demonstration took place as people lined up nearby for their scheduled check-ins.
Longtime civil rights activist Gloria Hernandez, who has participated in many immigration-related demonstrations — many drawing hundreds or even thousands — said Tuesday’s lower turnout is partly because some people are at work, but also because fear is keeping many away.
“A lot of people are afraid. They’re not going to stores, they’re not going to work, they’re not going to the doctor — they’re scared,” she said. “So those of us who can speak up for them, should. It’s not that they don’t want to be here, they’re just afraid.”
The demonstration comes after a recent ICE raid at a Home Depot in Sacramento County that resulted in 12 arrests, as well as accounts of people being detained ahead of court hearings and during routine ICE check-ins.
Hernandez added that it was important for her to show up for immigrants because she believes ICE agents are violating the Constitution.
Hernandez said she wants the Fresno County Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff’s Office to take a public stand in support of immigrants.
“I think the board of supervisors and the sheriff need to wake up and speak out for immigrants,” she said. “We need to hear: ‘I see your struggle, I stand with you, and I’ve got your back.’ We don’t hear that.”
Arissa Delacerda, 23, said showing up to protest was important to her because she has family members who are immigrants.
“I’m a child of an immigrant. Growing up, I heard my mom’s stories about working in the fields and the struggles that came with being undocumented. She’s now a citizen. But regardless of whether you have a personal connection to what’s happening or not, I think it’s important to show up for the undocumented community,” Delacerda said.
Patty Cappelluti of the Central Valley Indivisible group organized Tuesday’s demonstration. She said it’s important that ICE agents understand how the community feels about the separation of families and the lack of due process and transparency immigrants are experiencing.
“We see them, and we’re not okay with what’s happening,” she said. “We’re here because we can’t stay silent in the face of the atrocities happening in our communities.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 3:07 PM.
