Fresno Advocates Alarmed as USCIS Expands Enforcement Powers

(FRESNO, CENTRAL VALLEY) Immigration advocates across the Central Valley say a quiet rule change has reshaped how the United States 🇺🇸 handles immigration cases, placing Fresno at the front line of a rapid shift from benefits work to direct enforcement by the agency that runs green card and naturalization processing.

On September 5, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule that grants United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) new, sweeping enforcement powers once held mainly by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. The rule took effect 30 days after publication (early October), and USCIS is now recruiting and training special agents with the authority to arrest, detain, investigate, and remove people from the country.

Immediate community impact

Local community groups say this USCIS enforcement expansion has deepened fear in farm towns and city neighborhoods already shaken by stepped-up Border Patrol operations since January. Those operations spread from Kern County into Fresno, Sacramento, and Modesto, and led to at least 78 arrests earlier this year, according to local officials and legal advocates.

Reports from affected families describe:
– Missed shifts at fields, food processing plants, clinics, and small businesses as workers stayed home after seeing agents near parking lots and on roadways.
– Employers across the region experiencing sudden absences, according to Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez.
– Complaints to State Senator Anna Caballero about farmworkers being stopped in shopping areas despite official claims that operations were limited and targeted.

What the new rule authorizes

The rule, signed under the authority of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, shifts the center of gravity in immigration enforcement.

USCIS — long known as the benefits arm that handles petitions, applications, and status updates — can now do the following under the rule:
– Order expedited removal under 8 U.S.C. 1225
– Detain and remove individuals
– Issue and execute detainers and warrants
– Release people on bond or other conditions
– Investigate civil and criminal immigration violations from start to finish

USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow called the change a “historic moment,” arguing the agency “has always been an enforcement agency,” citing its fraud detection work tied to benefit applications.

Powers of USCIS 1811 special agents

USCIS’s new 1811-designated special agents (a classification used for federal criminal investigators) now carry authorities that extend beyond internal fraud checks, including:
– Opening criminal investigations into suspected violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act
– Arresting people when a crime occurs in their presence or where there’s a felony with a risk of escape
– Arresting those who aid others to enter or stay unlawfully
– Executing search and arrest warrants for immigration and nonimmigration offenses
– Carrying firearms, using force when needed, and initiating vehicle pursuits

For routine-benefits seekers these powers can feel abstract — until an interview notice, site visit, or tip becomes a criminal probe. Analysis by VisaVerge.com warns the rule positions USCIS as a direct enforcement player and creates a new layer of risk for anyone whose paperwork, past statements, or social media posts conflict with current filings.

Central Valley experiences and concerns

In early 2025, Border Patrol actions cited people from Peru, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador, and China. Cases involved missed court dates and alleged offenses ranging from petty theft and tampering with vehicles to felony drug possession, burglary, domestic violence, and child abuse convictions.

While federal agencies say they target public-safety threats, families describe a different message when roaming agents appear near stores or along common routes. The spread of operations into Fresno — beyond the border — raises concerns about the 100-mile border zone rule, which allows Border Patrol to operate within 100 miles of any land border or coastline.

Katie Kavanagh, senior attorney at the California Collaborative for Immigration Justice, says her team is tracking “new tactics,” including actions in places residents never viewed as border areas. She notes that federal officers may sometimes claim authority beyond the 100-mile line based on reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

Surge in demand for legal help and community responses

Advocates report strong increases in demand for immigration assistance:
– The Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC) says attendance at legal workshops in Fresno and Visalia doubled from 40 people to much larger groups.
– CVIIC distributed 29,000 “red cards” explaining constitutional rights during encounters, and ordered 200,000 more.

Red card guidance (short scripts in English and Spanish):
– Ask if you are free to leave
– Stay silent beyond identifying information
– Refuse consent to searches without a warrant
– Request a lawyer

Rapid response networks now run hotlines and text systems to verify enforcement activity, dispatch trained observers, and connect affected families with legal aid. These teams ask volunteers to:
– Collect photos or short videos where safe
– Gather multiple witness accounts
– Push reports through experienced immigration attorneys before public alerts go out

Key local contact numbers:
– Faith in the Valley’s Watch Network (Central Valley): (559) 206-0151
– Kern County Rapid Response Network: (661) 432-2230
– Sacramento Rapid Response Network: (916) 245-6773
– Text “Defensa” to 797979 for alerts

Organizers emphasize: verified alerts reduce panic and cut down on rumors. False messages about sweeping clinic raids forced providers like Clinica Sierra Vista to issue public statements to calm patients.

Practical advice for families and workplaces

Immigration attorneys in Fresno recommend preparing for possible interruptions at home or work. Practical steps include:

Family preparedness (typical plan):
– Name emergency contacts and trusted attorneys
– Create a durable power of attorney for a trusted adult
– Assign temporary childcare and school pickup authorizations
– Store medical records in a safe location
– Keep copies of leases, pay stubs, and documents organized

Encounter guidance and document handling:
– Carry a California ID if available; avoid carrying green cards or status documents during daily errands
– Keep red cards accessible
– Rehearse short scripts: ask if you are free to leave, keep answers brief, refuse consent to a search without a warrant, and request a lawyer if detained

Workplace steps:
– Plan for backup shifts and cross-training
– Maintain emergency contact lists
– Train supervisors on rights and procedures on private property (warrants required for nonpublic area entry)
– For mobile crews, plan safer routes and carpooling strategies

Attorney-recommended checklist:
1. Keep copies of all applications, notices, and receipts together, with the most recent on top.
2. File required address changes with USCIS and keep proof.
3. Tell your lawyer about any past arrests, citations, or missed court dates.
4. Do not sign papers you don’t understand — ask for time to consult an attorney.
5. If stopped, ask if you are free to leave; if not, state you choose to remain silent and want a lawyer.
6. Avoid carrying a green card during everyday errands; carry a state ID instead if available.

Lawyers stress that record consistency across filings, statements, and interviews is now critical. A mismatch — even an honest mistake — can invite subpoenas or a referral to a U.S. attorney. The agency may also reopen cases showing signs of fraud or misrepresentation, which affects mixed-status households.

Why the government says it changed course

The government frames the shift as an efficiency and public-safety measure:
– Letting USCIS special agents work cases end-to-end should free ICE HSI and ERO to focus on transnational crime and removals.
– DHS expects a “force multiplier” effect across agencies, including work with the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
– USCIS officials say cracking down on fraud rings (sham marriages, counterfeit petitions, fake asylum claims) will protect honest applicants and speed up processing.

USCIS notes it has long had fraud detection teams, but the difference now is scope and authority: USCIS 1811 special agents can arrest, detain, carry firearms, seek nonimmigration warrants, and take a case from tip to outcome.

For official background on the agency’s fraud and security work, see USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security overview: USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate

Political and community tensions

Critics argue the merger of benefits and enforcement will:
– Discourage good-faith applicants from speaking openly
– Cause people to skip interviews or delay filing for benefits they qualify for
– Push families deeper into the shadows in regions with seasonal work and mixed-status households

Supporters counter that stronger fraud control protects rule-following workers and families and helps clear backlogs.

Training and policy implementation will shape outcomes. USCIS must:
– Separate routine benefits work from criminal probes
– Train agents to apply probable-cause standards correctly
– Handle warrants and detention procedures by the book
– Ensure clarity around bond and release policies

Any confusion will play out in real time across the Central Valley.

Local practices and verification efforts

Because stops and checks have been reported beyond announced areas, rapid response volunteers emphasize verification tactics before public alerts:
– Time-stamped photos and short videos (when safe)
– License plate notes and street cross-references
– Multiple witness accounts and attorney checks

The aim is to build reliable records for court or policy use, not to amplify unverified fear.

Community groups continue to:
– Host “Know Your Rights” talks, family preparedness sessions, and pop-up legal clinics
– Train volunteers to avoid unsafe confrontations and collect legally useful details: time, location, badge numbers, and any mention of a warrant
– Maintain hotlines and text trees to warn about verified activity without turning every rumor into an alarm

What applicants should do now

Applicants mid-process can reduce risk by:
– Double-checking every answer on new filings against past forms
– Having a qualified lawyer review old submissions if you used a preparer
– Explaining changes (marriage, job, address) clearly and with proof
– Keeping pay stubs, leases, school records, and medical files organized and current
– Calling a lawyer before responding to confusing requests

A careful paper trail can matter if USCIS special agents open a review.

Oversight, transparency, and next steps

Local leaders (county supervisors and state lawmakers) want:
– Transparency on arrests and stops in the Central Valley
– Clear reporting on where and how often officers act
– Information on data storage and the process for correcting records
– Assurances that schools, clinics, and houses of worship stay safe spaces

Meanwhile, special agent hiring and training are underway. Case-load distribution between USCIS, ICE HSI, and ERO will likely continue shifting as the system matures. Advocates expect:
– More coordination with federal partners, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force
– Increased prosecutions of fraud-related cases
– Continued operations in the Valley, alongside expanded safety nets (hotlines, legal clinics, church support)

Key takeaways and immediate actions

The rule is now active. The powers are real. Communities must combine verified information, legal preparedness, and measured responses.

Simple, repeated advice from legal aid groups:
– Carry your red card
– Keep your records in order
– Ask if you’re free to leave
– Remain silent if detained
– Ask for a lawyer

Employers will revisit policies and train supervisors on how to respond if officers arrive. Elected officials will continue requesting briefings and public data. Families will keep attending work, school, and clinics one day at a time.

What changed in Washington has reached Fresno’s streets: the benefits office is now an enforcement hub, with special agents, warrants, and arrests added to its toolbox. Supporters call the change overdue; opponents fear it will push people further from help. In the Central Valley — where agriculture, food processing, and care work depend heavily on immigrant labor — the effects are visible in shorter crews, packed evening workshops, and late-night hotline traffic.

If you or a loved one needs help:
– Save the hotlines listed above
– Write down your family plan and emergency contacts
– Verify information before sharing it publicly

The Central Valley’s response — steady, organized, and focused on rights — will shape what this new era looks like on the ground.