BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) – After multiple Border Patrol vehicles and officers were spotted throughout the county, U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a statement regarding their deployment.

A statement from a CBP spokesperson said: “The U.S. Border Patrol conducts targeted arrests of individuals involved in smuggling in all of our areas of operation as part of our efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations.”

Social media posts show images of those arrested:

Deputy Chief Patrol Agent David Kim said they are looking for specific people for this operation and are not targeting local farms or field workers, but that has done little to allay local fears.

“This will be a massive constitutional violation in terms of racial profiling, illegal search and seizure,” said Win Eaton, certified immigration specialist and attorney.

Eaton expressed concern that many who are not the intended targets will be caught up in this operation.

“I believe that this process will result in the deportation of many US citizens who do not have their documents with them. US citizens are not required to have their documents with them. If you were born abroad, you must carry your documents with you,” he said.

In response to the CBP presence, local attorneys and advocates are sharing information about immigration rights and services in hopes of helping residents like Gisselle Garcia, a Lamont native whose father was previously deported.

“It impacted our family so much,” Garcia said. “I don’t think people understand that it not only impacts the person who leaves, but also the people who stay.”

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