ICE officers have maintained a constant presence this week, especially around Santa Clara County’s jail facilities, apparently waiting to question people about their immigration status right after they’re released. This has led to some physical confrontations caught on camera.
NBC Bay Area was inside the Elmwood facility on Friday before the sheriff’s office announced that access to the parking lot and lobby would be restricted to people with direct business at the facility.
The restrictions come as a response to the increased ICE activity, including an incident in which officers used a taser.
Liz Gonzalez was shooting video of a man released from the Elmwood jail who tried to elude ICE officers by hiding in a nearby creek.
He ran and green lights from tasers were aimed right at him.
“Obviously I was in fear. I was shocked. I was surprised and scared by what I saw. I was so scared for those individuals because I thought that they were going to kill them,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez is with the watchdog group Silicon Valley De-Bug, which has been videotaping ICE officers since Sunday when they showed up at Elmwood, capturing encounters with people being released.
The Rapid Response Network in Santa Clara County says ICE officers have been very assertive.
Top Santa Clara County leaders said on Friday they are very concerned about the escalation in activity, stating, “The county continues to uphold its long-standing non-cooperation policies regarding federal civil immigration enforcement. With Election Day next week, we are committed to ensuring all citizens are able to freely and safely cast their vote.”
“Well, it’s no coincidence that we’ve seen a larger ICE presence right before the elections, so this is very consistent with what we’re seeing up and down the state of California,” Rapid Response Network coordinator Jeremy Barousse said.
For now, groups say the immigrant community is on edge.
“People are afraid. Both family members outside, and we’re hearing that the people detained inside also very afraid. Even folks who are ‘not at risk.’ Everybody’s at risk, and especially people who look Latino, obviously we know that,” Gonzalez said.
