Congresswoman Torres Demands Answers from ICE After Reports of Aggressive, Racially-Targeted Arrests in the Inland Empire
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres wrote to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons demanding immediate answers following reports of aggressive, abusive, and racially discriminatory enforcement actions in the Inland Empire.
Congresswoman Torres' office has received a surge of calls from frantic families unable to locate loved ones who were abruptly taken into ICE custody. Many have resorted to filing missing persons reports with local law enforcement after ICE failed to update its Online Detainee Locator System, leaving families without answers—or hope.
“What we are witnessing in our communities is racial terror,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “Latino residents are being targeted based on their appearance, not their actions. That’s not just immoral—it’s unconstitutional. My constituents are being pulled from their homes, their jobs, and the streets without cause or explanation. ICE is operating in the shadows and it must stop.”
A recent Los Angeles Times report detailed instances of racial profiling by ICE agents, reinforcing the troubling stories Torres and her office have received firsthand. Families are living in fear—pulling children from school, skipping work, and carrying passports just to go to the grocery store.
In her letter, Rep. Torres demands the following from ICE:
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A complete list of detained individuals from California’s 35th District, including names, locations, and legal status;
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An explanation for why the Online Detainee Locator System is not being promptly updated;
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Proof that detainees have access to basic services and are able to contact family and legal counsel;
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Detailed legal justifications for each detention;
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A report on internal complaints or investigations into racial profiling during enforcement operations.
“This is not oversight—it’s overreach. ICE has a duty to uphold the law, not abuse it,” Torres continued. “If they think they can make people disappear without consequence, they’re wrong. I will not stop until families have answers, and this agency is held accountable.”
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