Immigrant groups urge Central Valley residents to prepare and defend against ICE.
Coalition recommends legal planning, document safekeeping and caregiver designation.
Advocates track ICE activity via Valley Watch hotline and connect families to counsel.
A coalition of immigrant rights groups are urging Central Valley community to protect themselves against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics in the area.
Sarait Martínez, executive director of Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño, said the May 1st Coalition wants people to know what their rights are and to make sure they take the necessary steps to prepare themselves in case they encounter ICE encounter.
“At this point, we’re dealing with our government that is not following the law, and we want people to know what to do in case they encounter ICE and how to prepare their families in case they don’t come back,” she said.
The May 1st Coalition, a broad coalition of community-based organizations and residents, urges the immigrant community to protect themselves against immigration crackdown during a press conference outside of the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, in downtown Fresno on Oct. 1, 2025. MarÃa G. Ortiz-Briones mortizbriones@fresnobee.com
Brenda Ordaz García, community education and outreach coordinator the Coalition for Humane Immigrants Rights, said, “in today’s current political environment, all our community needs to be aware that they need to have a plan in place in case of an emergency.”
The May 1st Coalition, a broad coalition of community-based organizations and residents, urges the immigrant community to protect themselves against immigration crackdown during a press conference outside of the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, in downtown Fresno on Oct. 1, 2025. MarÃa G. Ortiz-Briones mortizbriones@fresnobee.com
The May 1st Coalition, a broad coalition of community-based organizations and residents, urges the immigrant community to protect themselves against immigration crackdown during a press conference outside of the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, in downtown Fresno on Oct. 1, 2025. MarÃa G. Ortiz-Briones mortizbriones@fresnobee.com
Ordaz García said key components include gathering essential documents such as passports, IDs, birth certificates, and immigration documents.
Ordaz García also highlighted the importance of knowing constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel. She urged the community to be proactive and not wait until the last minute to prepare for potential emergencies.
Lourdes Medina, advocacy and communication associate with the Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network, urged community members to use Valley Watch Network’s hotline 559-206-0151 to report and tract ICE activity in their communities. The hotline is run by volunteers and also can connect families to legal resources.
“We are here making noises as we know, all of our rights, our human rights, our constitutional rights, and well, our community rights are being violated by anti-immigrant sentiments, fear mongering and abuse of power on the hands of the federal government through the Department of Homeland Security and ICE,” Medina said.
“The bottom line is that we are all fighting here and making presence to fight for due process, to fight for democracy, to fight for our human right to exist in peace and security and community and love,” she said.
The May 1st Coalition, a broad coalition of community-based organizations and residents including, urges the immigrant community to protect themselves against immigration crackdown during a press conference outside of the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, in downtown Fresno on Oct. 1, 2025. Pictured Petra Ramírez. MarÃa G. Ortiz-Briones mortizbriones@fresnobee.com
The May 1st Coalition, a broad coalition of community-based organizations and residents, urges the immigrant community to protect themselves against immigration crackdown during a press conference outside of the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, in downtown Fresno on Oct. 1, 2025. MarÃa G. Ortiz-Briones mortizbriones@fresnobee.com
The May 1st Coalition, a broad coalition of community-based organizations and residents, urges the immigrant community to protect themselves against immigration crackdown during a press conference outside of the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, in downtown Fresno on Oct. 1, 2025. MarÃa G. Ortiz-Briones mortizbriones@fresnobee.com
The May 1st Coalition, a broad coalition of community-based organizations and residents, urges the immigrant community to protect themselves against immigration crackdown during a press conference outside of the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, in downtown Fresno on Oct. 1, 2025. MarÃa G. Ortiz-Briones mortizbriones@fresnobee.com
María G. Ortiz-Briones is a reporter and photographer for McClatchy’s Vida en el Valle publication and the Fresno Bee. She covers issues that impact the Latino community in the Central Valley. She is a regular contributor to La Abeja, The Bee’s free weekly newsletter on Latino issues. | María G. Ortiz-Briones es reportera y fotógrafa de la publicación Vida en el Valle de McClatchy y el Fresno Bee. Ella cubre temas que impactan a la comunidad latina en el Valle Central. Es colaboradora habitual de La Abeja, el boletín semanal gratuito de The Bee sobre temas latinos.Support my work with a digital subscription
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