Local Leaders React to Reports of Immigration Enforcement Activity Across Coachella Valley

Local officials and community advocates are responding to reports of apparent federal immigration enforcement activity across the Coachella Valley, following multiple incidents captured on video and shared with our newsroom.

One video, recorded by a Ring camera in Cathedral City, shows an unmarked vehicle pulling up to a residence, where a man appears to be taken into custody. The person who provided the video says they do not know the individual involved. NBC Palm Springs has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for confirmation but has not yet received a response. Cathedral City Police say they cannot confirm ICE activity in the city, and U.S. Border Patrol reports they were not operating there on the day in question.

Additional cell phone video sent to NBC Palm Springs from a viewer in Indio appears to show law enforcement officers arresting a man outside an apartment complex. In the video, an officer can be heard telling bystanders the man is in the country illegally. Indio Police confirmed that federal enforcement activity did take place in the city but could not specify which agency was involved.

Indio City Councilmember Oscar Ortiz, who recently introduced a successful motion directing the city to pursue a Freedom of Information Act request with the Department of Homeland Security, addressed the situation on social media. Ortiz said at least two workers were detained and that his office is also aware of a case involving two youths taken into detention after attending an immigration appointment with their mother.

Congressman Raul Ruiz also issued a statement condemning the actions, stating, “These cruel, indiscriminate, massive deportations targeting non-criminal immigrants are creating fear across our communities, hurting local businesses, and tearing families apart. This approach is wrong and must stop.”

Advocacy organization TODEC tells NBC Palm Springs it has received multiple calls from families reporting federal immigration enforcement activity since Monday in Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Indio. According to TODEC, families reported that between 11 and 14 people were detained in a single day, believed to be by ICE agents.

We are continuing to follow the story as more information becomes available.