ICE Presence Sparks Ongoing Fear Among Coachella Valley Farm Workers

Federal activity in the Coachella Valley has left many immigrant families living in fear. Nearly two months ago, a DEA-led operation in Thermal, assisted by other federal agencies including ICE, caused widespread concern among farm workers in the area. Though officials stressed that the operation was not immigration-related, the visible presence of ICE agents sent shockwaves through the community.

One local farm worker, a mother of four, shared her story with NBC Palm Springs’ Tommy Gallegos. “Our supervisors told us to stay calm, but that was impossible,” she recalled. On the day of the raid, she fled to a friend’s home in fear, hiding in silence and terrified she might never return to her children. “There are many criminals walking our streets, but I just come here to work and make a living.”

Weeks later, the fear still lingers. The woman says simple daily tasks—going to the store, church, or dropping kids off at school—are now clouded with anxiety. “We still live in fear because the laws and policies seem to change every day.”

In a rare moment of relief, the family recently received good news: she was granted a work permit. “We were very happy when the permit finally came in,” she said. “It is very hard to get work anywhere without one.” But the family’s financial struggles continue. She and her husband have been unemployed for weeks, and their savings are quickly disappearing.

They recently moved into a larger home to accommodate their family, but without steady income, it’s becoming harder to stay afloat. “A month has passed since our last job, and the little money we had saved has gone to food and rent.”

Now, they are considering leaving the Coachella Valley in search of work elsewhere—despite the fear of traveling and starting over. “We do grow desperate every day. It is all very complicated, but we still have to pay rent and cover our basic needs in this country.”

Their story underscores the growing fear and uncertainty among immigrant workers in the region.

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