The mayor of Perris, California, issued a public service announcement to the city's predominantly Latino residents urging them to stay inside their homes amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the community.
Mayor Michael Vargas recorded videos in English and Spanish that were posted to the city's Facebook and Instagram accounts on Wednesday. Perris' population is 78% Hispanic or Latino, The Sacramento Bee reported.
"The city of Perris has received reports of ongoing ICE operations within the area. We urge all residents to remain calm, stay indoors when possible and know your rights," Vargas said in the 28-second video.
"Do not go out unless necessary. Stay at home and do not open the door to strangers. This message is for awareness and safety. The city is committed to protecting the dignity and well-being of all our residents."
The Spanish video was 42 seconds.
Vargas' videos, in essence, are informing illegals how to avoid being arrested. ICE makes arrests on administrative warrants, which do not give them authority to enter private residences without consent. ICE would need judicial warrants for that.
Combined with sanctuary policies in California, border czar Tom Homan has repeatedly said ICE will be in California communities, given the job of finding illegals is more difficult in sanctuary locales.
"We're going to be in sanctuary cities — especially in sanctuary cities. We're going to double down and triple down," Homan told Newsmax on Tuesday.
"If they don't want to work with us and give us the criminal illegal alien when they release them from jail, which is safer for the community, safer for the officer, and safer for the alien, then we're going to be in the community looking for them."
Perris is in Riverside County, about 70 miles east-southeast of Los Angeles.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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