Fear Is Not a Policy: Riverside County Democratic Party Respond to Local ICE Raids
CATHEDRAL CITY — On Friday, heavily armed and masked ICE and Border Patrol agents (allegedly) stormed Cathedral City neighborhoods in a coordinated federal raid, Joy Silver, Chair of the Riverside County Democratic Party, said Sundaya in a letter to Riverside County Democrats, .
However, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined late to confirm were present and working in operations in the Coachella Valley.
“Residents watched in horror as anonymous agents in military-style gear chased and arrested a man, dragging him away while refusing to identify themselves or explain their presence,” according to Silver. “At the same time, agents descended on businesses in Los Angeles, where SEIU California President David Huerta was injured and arrested. He has since been released.”
In the aftermath, which has left resident shaken and afraid, Joy Silver, Chair of the Riverside County Democratic Party, issued the following statement:
Joy Silver
“Let’s be clear, these raids weren’t about public safety. They were designed to terrorize. The goal is to make people afraid to leave their homes, go to work, or take their kids to school. Today they’re targeting immigrants. If we don’t stop this, who’s next? We didn’t fight a revolution so masked federal agents could roam our neighborhoods in riot gear.”
Silver emphasized that the Riverside County Democratic Party stands with affected families and all communities under threat.
In response to the increased militarization of immigration enforcement, California Democrats have introduced legislation to block ICE access to schools, hospitals, libraries, and shelters — spaces meant to be safe. Lawmakers are also pushing bills to expand legal defense funds, increase data privacy protections, and enforce California’s sanctuary laws, which prohibit local collaboration with federal immigration enforcement.
“We have the laws. We need the will to enforce them,” Silver said. “No local agency should ever assist in or remain silent about actions like this. And no Californian should live in fear of masked men with machine guns showing up at their door.”
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About the Riverside County Democratic Party
The Riverside County Democratic Party fights for dignity, equality, and justice for all people in our region—regardless of immigration status.
Image Sources
- Joy Silver: Joy Silver
- Ice,Raids,,Immigration,And,Customs,Enforcement,,United,States,Of,America: Shutterstock
