Southern California mayor urges residents to stay home amid immigration raids

A mayor in Riverside County, California, took to social media on Wednesday, warning residents to stay home amid the ongoing federal immigration raids tied to President Donald Trump’s deportation policy.

The post on the City of Perris Facebook page titled PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT states that the city has received reports of ongoing “ICE operations” in the area.

“We urge all residents to remain calm, stay indoors if possible, and know your rights. Do not go out unless necessary. Stay at home and do not open the door to strangers,” Perris Mayor Michael Vargas says in the video.

Roughly 78% of Perris’s population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The mayor’s message comes as officers from the Department of Homeland Security conduct daily enforcement operations targeting individuals, businesses, and gathering places frequented by day laborers.

The mayor’s message did not mention any specific ICE operations or arrests in the area.

On Tuesday, Bishop Alberto Rojas relieved some Catholics in the San Bernardino Diocese of the obligation to attend Mass and encouraged them to engage in personal prayer in light of the raids.

“All members of the faithful in the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation, as provided for in Canon 1247, until such time as this decree is revoked or amended,” reads Rojas’ message that was posted on X.