Congressman DeSaulnier Calls on ICE for Answers on Raids in Contra Costa County

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) sent a letter to the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) urgently requesting information regarding recent ICE activity in Concord, California as well as a meeting with the Acting Director. This letter comes after reports that on Tuesday, June 10, federal officers, some of whom were wearing plain clothes and were masked, from both ICE and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested and removed four asylum-seekers following their scheduled hearings at the Concord Immigration Court.

In the letter, Congressman DeSaulnier wrote, "I am deeply disappointed that your agency has chosen to use its resources to target individuals who are showing up to court to go through the proper judicial and legal process - exactly what proponents of immigration enforcement purport to advocate for. This misguided effort will only result in others avoiding courts and law enforcement entirely. As many individuals who need to use these courts are already living in fear, we should be encouraging immigrants to attend court as instructed, not making them even more afraid to appear. These kinds of underhanded enforcement actions also call into question the Administration's commitment to the American ideals of law and order and the right to due process."

He continued, "The district I represent has seen dramatic economic expansion due in large part to the growth of the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay Area. That industry would not exist without immigrants who came to the United States seeking freedom from repression and greater economic opportunity like so many others before them, my ancestors and those of most Americans included. The heavy-handed approach to immigration enforcement that this Administration is pursuing is particularly out of place in communities like ours, where people know and appreciate the many contributions that immigrants have made to our lives, and understand the dignity that every individual, regardless of immigration status, deserves. Our community will not be deterred or intimidated by attempts to provoke chaos, sow division, and violate our Constitutional rights."

To that end, I request that you provide our office with the below information as soon as possible:

1. The number of individuals with scheduled hearings at the Concord Immigration Court who have been arrested at the court since January 20, 2025.
2. The current location of each of these individuals, including whether they are still in the United States.
3. The location(s) where new detainees who are arrested at the Concord Immigrant Court are being taken, given that ICE facilities are reportedly already overcrowded.^[1]
4. Whether individuals with asylum claims will have an opportunity to continue pursuing them after they have been detained by ICE.

In addition to the above information, I also request a meeting with you to discuss this matter as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your prompt response."

The full text of the letter can be found here.

About his home state, Congressman DeSaulnier said, "Californians are proud that our state boasts the fourth largest economy in the world - a standing made possible by the fact that we are also the most diverse state in the country, with the largest Hispanic and Latino population of any U.S. state."