Arrests by the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents along California’s Central Coast have ramped up since they started earlier this year. The US government has committed a $30 billion to ICE removal operations. This is part of a broader $170 billion immigration enforcement initiative. On the weekend of July 6-7, ICE agents made several more arrests in the Santa Barbara and Carpinteria communities, raising alarms.
Highlights
- On the weekend of July 6–7, ICE made several arrests across Santa Barbara and Carpinteria.
- ICE agents are refusing to identify themselves during these arrests, wearing only a “Police” vest for identification.
- These arrests are part of a larger immigration enforcement initiative under the current US administration.
Agents Have Refused to Present Identification in Videotaped Interactions
On Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 11:30 am, two masked agents detained a young man on Santa Barbara’s Cacique Street. Bystanders were able to record the interaction, which was posted on 805 Immigrant Coalition’s Instagram account, showing one agent identified only by a “Police” vest. When asked to present identification, they refused to provide a badge or name…