ICE Detention in California: What It Means for Immigrant Families
- Shan Potts
- Jun 30
- 2 min read

She Was Just Selling Food — Then She Was Gone
Emma De Paz woke up before dawn every day to make tamales, soup, and roasted chicken. For 25 years, she sold food outside a Home Depot in Hollywood, part of a quiet, hardworking immigrant vendor community.
But on June 19, 2025, her routine ended in chaos.
Around 7:30 a.m., ICE agents in masks and tactical gear swarmed the parking lot without warning. They blocked exits and moved in fast. Vendors shouted, “¡Migración!” and scattered—some ducked behind garden supplies, others ran. One woman even jumped into a passing car to escape.
Emma didn’t make it out. She was detained on the spot.
Her family had no idea where she was. No call. No explanation. After 72 hours, they finally learned she had been transferred to Adelanto Detention Center—90 miles away.
What This ICE Detention in California Tells Us About Enforcement
Emma’s arrest is part of a disturbing trend: street-level ICE raids in public places, without warrants or clear identification. The new targets aren’t just people with serious convictions—they’re food vendors, day laborers, and everyday immigrants just trying to survive.
Key concerns:
No prior notice or legal process
Families kept in the dark for days
Fast transfers to distant detention centers
What ICE Detention in California Means for Immigrant Families
If it can happen to Emma, it can happen to anyone.
Even immigrants with long work histories, no criminal records, and deep community ties are now at risk. ICE detention in California today means:
Sudden separation from family
Difficulty finding legal help
Risk of removal before a case is heard
This is not just about immigration status—it’s about visibility, vulnerability, and the loss of basic protections.
What You Can Do Now
Talk to Shan Potts Law Offices NOW. Don’t wait until it’s urgent. A strategy now can protect you later.
Keep records accessible. Make sure loved ones can find your A-number, case documents, and attorney contacts.
Know your rights. You don’t have to open the door without a signed judicial warrant.
Join a rapid response network. Many California communities have them. Save the number.
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