Wicks Statement on Reported Federal Immigration Operation In the Bay Area

OAKLAND — Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump administration has dispatched more than 100 federal agents — including officers from ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection — to Coast Guard Island in Alameda:

“The federal government is once again trying to sow chaos and fear in our communities under the guise of public safety. They’re looking for confrontation and excuses to use excessive force – we must be on guard against that. The most powerful thing we can do right now is stay calm, stay connected, and look out for one another.

As our community exercises its right to peaceful protest, I urge everyone to refrain from blocking bridges, federal buildings, or other federally-operated infrastructure. It’s exactly the kind of provocation these operations are designed to exploit. We can stand up for what’s right without giving them what they need to incite chaos.

Oakland and the East Bay know this playbook — we’ve seen these fear tactics before. If these operations reach our community, we’ll be ready. We’re coordinating with local leaders, legal advocates, and grassroots organizations to ensure every resident knows their rights and has access to support.”

Assemblymember Wicks’ office is in close contact with state and local partners and is aligning its response with the latest guidance from the Governor’s Office regarding federal deployments and peaceful community response. Anyone who witnesses ICE activity or needs urgent help can contact the Alameda County Rapid Response Network at ccijustice.org/carrn.

 # # #