The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that Border Patrol agents conducted illegal raids targeting Latino farmworker communities in Bakersfield during early January.
According to the lawsuit, agents slashed vehicle tires, forcibly removed people from their cars, and unlawfully detained individuals who were legally present in the U.S. The ACLU claims the actions were based primarily on racial profiling of people of color assumed to be farm workers.
The raids, dubbed "Operation Return to Sender" by Border Patrol, resulted in approximately 200 people being stopped, searched or detained, with officials confirming 78 arrests. The Department of Homeland Security maintained that all Border Patrol operations are "highly targeted" and that misconduct allegations are investigated.
The lawsuit details that at least 40 arrested individuals were pressured into accepting "voluntary departure" - an expulsion process that waives immigration hearing rights and bars re-entry to the U.S. for 3-10 years. The ACLU argues Border Patrol failed to properly explain these consequences to detainees.
One plaintiff, Mungia Esquivel, describes being forcibly detained outside a Bakersfield Home Depot and transported 300 miles to a Border Patrol facility near the Mexican border. There, he allegedly faced poor conditions and was coerced into signing undisclosed documents before his release three days later.
"This raid absolutely disrupted people's lives," said Bree Bernwanger, ACLU Northern California senior staff attorney. "Two plaintiffs remain stranded in Mexico after being forced to accept voluntary departure."
The ACLU seeks to halt such operations and secure the return of affected individuals through legal action. The organization argues these raids violated Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.