UPDATE 1/16: New information has become available. ICE was in South Lake Tahoe on Tuesday to locate one criminal. He was located and arrested. SLTPD was not aware of the operation at the time of this story.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – There have been rumors circulating in towns across the state about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting raids in their communities. The Mono County Sheriff issued a statement four days ago to address such a rumor spreading around the Mammoth Lakes area. That rumor was seen on social media posts that showed a white Border Patrol vehicle that was said to be in their town. The Sheriff said the photo was actually from 2023 and had nothing to do with California or Nevada.
On Tuesday, rumors spread through South Lake Tahoe that ICE was in town in either a white van with California license plates or a blue Ford with Colorado plates and that they were conducting raids. South Tahoe Now was contacted by several concerned citizens on Tuesday, asking about the validity of the claims.
South Lake Tahoe Police Department said they knew of no ICE enforcement in town. In California, local police cannot assist in ICE operations. The California Values Act (SB 54) prohibits the use of state or local resources to assist ICE.
In Kern County, California there was one recent verified ICE “raid” that was a targeted enforcement operation aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations. With President Trump taking office in a week, his promises of a round-up of illegal immigrants are creating fear and panic in the Central Valley and other regions. That panic is causing rumors to circulate even when local law enforcement is seen conducting normal job duties. The LA Times said, “Routine law enforcement presence at strip malls and freeway off-ramps was, at times, conflated online with immigration roundups.”
Misinformation and rumors concerning ICE are not new. In November 2024, ICE officials said they do not conduct “raids” in response to rumors they had a big presence in neighborhoods and were conducting enforcement operations.
“Let me be very clear, ICE does not conduct patrols, raids, or sweeps looking for illegal aliens. Individuals and groups making such accusations are doing nothing but fearmongering and in turn, putting the public and our officers at risk. ICE strictly conducts targeted enforcement actions and continues to focus its limited resources first and foremost on those who pose the greatest threat to public safety,” said John Fabbricatore of the ICE field office in Denver. “
ICE encourages public leaders, advocacy groups, and the community to share accurate information.