BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — After sightings of several Border Patrol vehicles and agents across the county, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a statement about their operation.
In a statement from a CBP spokesperson they say "The U.S. Border Patrol conducts targeted enforcement arrests of individuals involved in smuggling throughout our areas of operation as part of our efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations."
On social media posts, pictures of people arrested are shown:
Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David Kim shared they're looking for specific individuals for this operation and are not targeting local farms or fieldworkers, but that has done little to settle local fears.
"This will be a massive constitutional offense in the way of racial profiling, illegal search and seizure," said Win Eaton, a certified immigration specialist and attorney.
Eaton shared his concerns that many who are not the intended targets will get caught up in this operation.
"There will be many U.S. citizens I believe deported through this process who do not have their documents on them, U.S. citizens are not required to have their documents on them. If you are foreign-born, you are required to carry your documentation," he said.
In response to CBP's presence, local advocates and attorneys are sharing information on immigration rights and services, hoping to help residents like Gisselle Garcia, a Lamont native whose father has previously been deported.
"It impacted our family so much," Garcia said. "I don't think people understand that it doesn't just impact the person who leaves but the people who stay."
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