Fresno Mayor Calls for ICE to Pause Operations, Retrain Agents

Dyer says lack of de-escalation training threatens public trust and safety

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:55pm

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Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to temporarily pull back from cities, regroup, and retrain its agents. Dyer says ICE needs more training in de-escalation tactics to maintain public trust and prevent unnecessary confrontations. While Dyer supports ICE's mission, he believes the agency's current tactics are damaging community relations and should be reassessed.

Why it matters

Mayor Dyer's comments highlight growing tensions between local law enforcement, immigrant communities, and federal immigration authorities. As a former police chief, Dyer emphasizes the importance of de-escalation and building public trust - values he says ICE currently lacks. His call for a pause and retraining aims to prevent further damage to police-community relations in Fresno.

The details

Dyer made the comments during a press conference in Washington, D.C., alongside other mayors. He believes ICE agents lack proper training in de-escalation, which is a core principle of policing. Dyer warned that current ICE tactics risk damaging public trust and could lead to unnecessary confrontations. He urged ICE to temporarily pull back, regroup, and retrain its agents before resuming operations. Not everyone agrees, with Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld calling it a "politician problem" rather than a training issue.

  • Dyer made the comments on January 29, 2026 during a press conference in Washington, D.C.

The players

Jerry Dyer

The mayor of Fresno, California who served nearly 20 years as the city's police chief.

Garry Bredefeld

A Fresno County Supervisor who pushed back on Dyer's comments, calling the issue a "politician problem" rather than a training issue.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that Dyer is calling on to pause operations, regroup, and retrain its agents.

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What they’re saying

“There is a lack of training, obviously, when you look at how operations are being carried out. A lack of training in the area of de-escalation.”

— Jerry Dyer, Mayor of Fresno

“One thing I learned that is fundamental to policing is that you have to earn the trust of the people you serve. That trust is very delicate. It's hard to gain and easy to lose.”

— Jerry Dyer, Mayor of Fresno

“We need to take a breath in America and maybe cause ICE to pull back, regroup, retrain, and then maybe approach us from a different stance.”

— Jerry Dyer, Mayor of Fresno

“It's a politician problem. Like Waltz, Newsom, Mayor Frye, that's the problem.”

— Garry Bredefeld, Fresno County Supervisor

“I'm worried about governors and mayors who oppose federal agents from following their lawful duties and getting rid of criminal, illegal aliens who have murdered innocent Americans.”

— Garry Bredefeld, Fresno County Supervisor

What’s next

Mayor Dyer says he will continue to advocate for ICE to pause operations and retrain its agents, emphasizing the need for de-escalation tactics and maintaining public trust.

The takeaway

Mayor Dyer's call for ICE to reassess its tactics highlights the delicate balance between federal immigration enforcement and local community relations. As a former police chief, Dyer's perspective underscores the importance of de-escalation and building trust to prevent unnecessary confrontations and maintain public safety.