Ventura County Sheriff on ICE

The deaths of Jaime Alanís García and Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, following ICE raids marked by aggressive tactics, have sharpened scrutiny of how local law enforcement responds to federal immigration operations.

At a recent Ventura County Public Safety Racial Equity Advisory Group (PSREAG) meeting, Sheriff James Fryhoff acknowledged that his deputies are dispatched whenever federal agents request backup—even in the absence of an immediate threat. He also added that he would intervene if federal agents used excessive force on community members. Yet when Supervisor Vianey Lopez and County Executive Officer Sevet Johnson urged him to protect residents during the Glass House raid in Camarillo, Fryhoff refused.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko also reported at the meeting that activated cases have fallen by more than 40 percent—a decline he stated is likely tied to fear of immigration enforcement. That fear, he noted, is keeping residents from reporting crimes or seeking help from the Ventura County Family Justice Center, which provides vital services to victims and survivors of violence.