Reports of Possible Immigration Arrests Across Coachella Valley Under Investigation

NBC Palm Springs has received multiple reports this week of possible immigration enforcement activity across the Coachella Valley, prompting questions from residents and local officials.

From Palm Springs to Indio, viewers have shared videos and accounts of what appear to be law enforcement arrests. One video, captured by a Ring camera in Cathedral City on Thursday morning and sent to our newsroom, shows an unmarked vehicle pulling up to a home. A man outside the residence is seen in handcuffs and later appears to be taken into the vehicle. The individual who shared the video says they do not know the man involved.

NBC Palm Springs reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Thursday afternoon to confirm whether the incident involved immigration enforcement. As of Friday morning, ICE has not responded.

Cathedral City Police say they cannot confirm the presence of ICE agents in the city, and Border Patrol officials also told NBC Palm Springs they were not operating in Cathedral City that day.

The same day the Cathedral City video surfaced, additional footage from Indio showed what appeared to be law enforcement officers arresting a man outside an apartment complex. In the video, officers can be heard telling bystanders that the man was in the country illegally.

Indio Police confirmed that federal enforcement activity took place in the city on Thursday but could not identify which agency was involved. City officials recently passed a motion using the Freedom of Information Act to request enforcement data from the Department of Homeland Security.

Indio City Councilmember Oscar Ortiz addressed the issue on social media Thursday, citing the presence of federal enforcement. Congressman Raul Ruiz also released a statement, saying in part:

“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.”

NBC Palm Springs also contacted the advocacy group TODEC, which reports receiving calls throughout the week from family members of detainees. According to TODEC, families have reported federal immigration enforcement activity since Monday in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Indio. The organization says families told them that between 11 and 14 people were detained on Wednesday alone by what they believe was ICE enforcement.

NBC Palm Springs has again reached out to ICE for clarification and is awaiting a response.

We will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.