YARR volunteers say ICE agents shoved, pepper-sprayed them near Santa Cruz County Jail

Santa Cruz County Your Allied Rapid Response says federal immigration agents shoved and pepper-sprayed at least three volunteer legal observers near the Santa Cruz County Jail on Thursday evening. The volunteers were monitoring reported ICE activity outside the jail when the confrontation occurred, according to the organization.

The Details

(YARR) says that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shoved and pepper-sprayed at least three of its volunteers near the Santa Cruz County Jail on Thursday evening.

The legal observers were responding to reports of ICE agents at the county jail around 5 p.m. Thursday, according to a social media post by YARR.

A spokesperson for the organization told Lookout on Friday morning that a person being released from the jail Thursday had been approached and racially profiled by federal immigration agents before calling YARR’s hotline.

YARR shared photographs of the several vehicles it said that were associated with the federal agents, including a blue Ford explorer and a black Chevrolet Escalade that were parked in front of the jail. The organization added that it appeared no arrests had been made.

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The YARR spokesperson told Lookout that ICE agents shoved and pepper-sprayed some of its volunteers shortly before leaving the jail, just before 7 p.m. Thursday. In a separate social media post, YARR said its legal observers were exercising their legal right to observe and document, and that they are trained to peacefully observe and document ICE activity.

“We remain committed to showing up for our neighbors and protecting the rights of everyone in our community,” the social media post said. “Together, we will continue to defend our rights, look out for one another, and stand up for our communities.”

Ashley Keehn, spokesperson for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, told Lookout via email that the department had no information about Thursday’s ICE activity.

She added that the department’s position on immigration enforcement has not changed, and is “committed to protecting public safety, maintaining community trust, and carrying out its responsibilities in accordance with California law and applicable county policies governing cooperation with federal immigration authorities.”

The sheriff’s office does not participate in immigration enforcement, nor does it provide an individual’s criminal history to ICE agents for enforcement purposes. Keehn said that the department “does not coordinate these activities and must operate within the legal requirements governing its authority and responsibilities.”

If you believe ICE is in your neighborhood, call Your Allied Rapid Response at 831-239-4289. The organization also posts updates on potential sightings on its Instagram account @yarr.scc.

The organization also recommends residents sign up for

Nice Alert for texts on verified active ICE presence in Santa Cruz County.

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