Immigration arrests surge in California's Central Valley and Latino towns go quiet

A sudden wave of immigration arrests has hit California's San Joaquin Valley and Latino communities there say daily life has stopped. Advocates estimate roughly 100 people were detained in about three days around Fresno and Madera. Federal officials declined to confirm the operation and said only that they do not discuss enforcement activity.

Fear in farm country

Local activists say they used to see a couple of vans a day arrive at the Fresno processing center and now they see 10 to 15. Faith leaders report roving patrols and traffic stops at gas stations and construction sites and on rural roads. Arrests have been reported in Selma and Kerman and Chowchilla as well. Reports say the operation could last 45 days.

In Mendota a small farm town with many Salvadoran families a lawful permanent resident named Gilbert Antonio said agents stopped him and asked for his papers. He believes he was stopped because he is Latino. He said the streets look like a ghost town and that he has been picking up neighbors' children from school because their parents are afraid to leave home. Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran said residents of her city which is about 98% Latino keep telling her they are afraid to go outside.

Arrests also reach families directly. Luis Arreguin a 54-year-old laborer who has lived in the country for 49 years was detained on Oct. 1 on his way to work. His family held a candlelight vigil for him in Fresno.

Leaders push back

At a Friday press conference Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said workers at Fowler Packing were detained and others stayed home out of fear. He said he had seen videos of children crying as their parents were taken and called the operation unnecessary and unacceptable. Rep. Jim Costa said more than half of the people arrested in the current campaign have not been charged with or convicted of any crime and urged Congress to pass the Dignity Act and the Farmworker Modernization Act.

Some members of the Oaxacan Indigenous community skipped a Madera City Council meeting this week where they were due to be honored because they feared being arrested. The raids come as growers prepare for the citrus harvest and as voters head toward the midterms.