‘Stand Firm’: Advocates call on Fresno businesses to keep ICE out

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Community advocates gathered in front of Fresno City Hall Thursday, calling on local businesses to hang up signs barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from entering. 

Members of the May 1st Committee for Immigration Rights did not call for a formal boycott of any particular business, but said all businesses should show “respect,” for their immigrant customers, or risk losing their clientele.

“If a business owner cannot stand firm and say, I will honor and respect the consumer that comes in and purchases from me, then I’ve got a problem,” Gloria Hernandez said.

Hernandez told reporters she’s been working in Civil Rights advocacy work since 1985 and recalled fighting discrimination in Sanger.

“I thought the worst thing they ever did was sit people down [trying to] prove they were citizens,” Hernandez said. “You cannot profile people thinking that just because they look brown.”

Hernandez says she’s appalled by ICE’s tactics as well as police officials and the media.

According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, a multi-agency law enforcement operation took place in Fresno and Kings counties. Officials say it was not related to any sort of immigrant enforcement.

“Bullsh**, bullsh**,” Hernandez said. “We know where the Sheriff stands.“

According to Hernandez, both law enforcement agencies and news media outlets need to “do their homework,” when covering reports of ICE sightings.

Hernandez also made reference to City Council Member Miguel Arias’ warning that ICE would conduct a raid on the Cherry Auction Swap Meet earlier this month.

“I have loved ones that are undocumented,” Hernandez said. “When I say he’s representing his constituents, he’s not only representing the undocumented. He’s representing those of us that are here – sick and tired of our people being put down.”

In a statement, ICE officials said in part, “ICE does not confirm or discuss the specific movement of its officers or agents,” before the date of the supposed raid.

Vendors at the Cherry Auction Swap Meet confirmed that there was no ICE presence at the swap meet, though many vendors chose not to attend out of fear.

According to Hernandez, local businesses can circumvent that fear by taking a stand and making it clear that ICE will not be welcomed in places where immigrants in Fresno are valued.

“We are open to educating them since they don’t know about the Fourth Amendment,” Hernandez said. “It’s important for them to know their rights, and I think they will understand that we won’t spend our money if we’re not welcome.”