In El Cajon, a group of activists took to the streets to voice their concerns following a recent federal immigration enforcement operation in East San Diego County.
The demonstration, organized by the local advocacy group Latinos en Acción, was sparked not only by the enforcement activity itself but also by the city council’s recent decision to formally support cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Protesters gathered outside city hall, urging local leaders to be more transparent about their interactions with federal officials.
Mairene Branham, who leads Latinos en Acción, shared her personal connection to the cause. Having arrived in the U.S. as an infant without legal status, Branham is now a citizen and small business owner.
She described the recent developments as deeply unsettling for immigrant communities and emphasized that they reflect a larger issue of systemic inequality and fear.
“It’s a reminder that we still have a long way to go,” she said during the rally.
The immigration operation in question took place at a business in unincorporated El Cajon known as San Diego Powder and Protective Coatings.
It stemmed from a 2022 drug trafficking investigation and resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals on criminal charges and another five on immigration-related violations.
Homeland Security Investigations led the raid, which quickly drew criticism from community members and immigrant rights advocates.
Many see such operations as causing unnecessary trauma and instability in already vulnerable neighborhoods.
Concerns intensified after the El Cajon City Council passed a resolution—on its third attempt—that reinforced the city’s willingness to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The resolution has stirred debate over whether local law enforcement should be involved in federal immigration matters. Mayor Bill Wells, a proponent of the resolution, defended the move by citing the importance of upholding the rule of law and responding to voter expectations.
However, community members argue that such cooperation fosters fear and alienates residents who already feel marginalized.
To push for greater transparency, Latinos en Acción filed a formal request for city records, seeking to uncover any correspondence between city officials—
particularly Mayor Wells—and federal immigration authorities, including past communication with Trump administration figures like Tom Homan.
Advocates like Salvador Sarmiento of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network stressed the importance of public oversight,
warning that democracy falters when officials prioritize distant political allies over their own constituents.
As Branham put it, the fight for immigrant rights in El Cajon has entered a new chapter—one defined by persistent civic engagement and an unwavering demand for justice.