PHOTOS: Padilla Conducts Unannounced Oversight Visit of Sacramento ICE Holding Center, Demands Answers After Unmarked ICE Vehicle Strikes California U.S. Citizen

This is Padilla’s third unannounced oversight visit of an ICE detention center this month as the Trump Administration escalates immigration enforcement operations across California. Photos here . SACRAMENTO, CA — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) conducted an unannounced oversight visit today to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) holding center in Sacramento, where he demanded answers about an incident this week in which an unmarked ICE vehicle struck Antonio Moreida . The visit comes as the Trump Administration ramps up immigration enforcement across California and the country, raising serious concerns about federal enforcement tactics, transparency, and accountability. “I’m in Sacramento today to demand answers about the incident this week in Woodland when an unmarked ICE vehicle struck Antonio Moreida, an incident that has sadly become part of a broader pattern of excessive use of force by an agency operating with no accountability. We’ve seen this Administration repeatedly deflect, deny, and avoid responsibility, even in the face of clear evidence. Today’s visit only reinforced those concerns. I asked and confirmed that the agent responsible is still on the job and still out in the field. That is unacceptable. The public deserves a full investigation,” said Senator Padilla. “It’s also clear how much fear this Administration has created: even people following the legal immigration process are afraid to show up for appointments or pursue citizenship. No one should be afraid to follow the law. No federal agency is above the law, and when Democrats take back Congress, we will use our full investigative power to get answers and hold this Administration accountable.” The Trump Administration’s aggressive tactics have created a climate of fear that extends beyond people targeted for enforcement, discouraging even those pursuing citizenship or complying with legal immigration processes from accessing government services. Padilla saw this firsthand during his tour, when he observed an immigration services office with no people present who would normally come in for immigration appointments, to pursue citizenship, and to follow the legal process. The absence of people seeking immigration services underscores the chilling effect of the Trump Administration’s enforcement actions, as even those following the law are increasingly afraid to engage with the immigration system. Padilla has repeatedly conducted oversight visits to immigration detention facilities across California to examine conditions firsthand and demand accountability from federal officials. His visits have included facilities in California City , Otay Mesa , San Francisco International Airport , and downtown Los Angeles . He will continue using his oversight authority to demand answers about the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement operations and hold federal officials accountable. ###