Quick Take:
Immigration officials detained a Watsonville resident Sunday morning, according to grassroots organization Your Allied Rapid Response. ICE agents were also reported knocking on doors near Watsonville High School Sunday.
Federal immigration agents detained at least one Watsonville resident Sunday morning, according to grassroots organization Your Allied Rapid Response, which monitors any potential immigration activity within the county and connects residents with legal help.
The arrest — caught on video by a neighbor and shared widely on social media — occurred around 9 a.m. near Rodriguez Street on the westside of Watsonville, said Paulina Moreno, a volunteer with YARR. The video shows two immigration officials, both wearing vests with “ICE” and “Police” written across them, placing the Watsonville resident in handcuffs and into the back of a grey SUV. It appears to be filmed from a second story window, looking down on the agents beside their vehicle and a man in handcuffs who does not resist/appears to be cooperating.
The organization received multiple calls to its hotline from residents in Watsonville who reported seeing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents knocking on doors at a home near Watsonville High School, according to an alert YARR shared on social media.
YARR volunteers had no information available on the person detained by ICE, but the organization is working to connect with any family members and help them find legal assistance, she said.
Moreno told Lookout that Sunday morning’s arrest appeared to be targeted and not part of a larger operation. Volunteers with YARR patrolled Watsonville the rest of the day following the incident and will continue its community patrols throughout the week.
This is only the second confirmed ICE arrest in South County. Last May, YARR confirmed the arrest of another Watsonville resident outside their home. Since President Trump’s return to office in 2025, federal immigration officials have visited Santa Cruz County at least 29 times, according to documents provided by local law enforcement agencies.
Lookout called and emailed the ICE office in San Francisco on Monday to request details on Sunday’s detention, but no spokesperson responded.
Local immigration advocates said undocumented residents aren’t legally required to open their doors if ICE agents shows up at their home. People should also ask if immigration authorities have a judicial warrant. For an example of what a judicial warrant looks like, residents can visit the Sus Derechos website.
The organization encourages residents to call its hotline at 831-239-4289 if they suspect ICE is in their neighborhoods.