ICE Surge Reported Across Southern California With Nearly 20 Incidents in One Day

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carried out a surge of operations across Southern California on Wednesday, with nearly 20 reported incidents resulting in at least 12 detentions. The raids took place in various cities, including Carpinteria, Ventura, San Gabriel, Glendale, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Cathedral City, Rancho Cucamonga, Vista, Santa Ana, Fontana, and San Diego.

Why it matters

This wave of ICE activity represents a significant increase in immigration enforcement actions in the region, not seen since the days of the Border Patrol. The aggressive tactics, including pepper-spraying a community member in Carpinteria, have raised concerns about the impact on immigrant communities and the erosion of trust between law enforcement and residents.

The details

In San Diego, ICE agents forcibly pulled a woman out of her vehicle near the University of San Diego campus and grabbed another woman near the California Western School of Law. Agents also detained someone from their vehicle near 47th Street and Imperial, as well as someone from the Vista Courthouse. In Fontana, ICE was spotted at the Lewis Library and Technology Center and later pulling over a vehicle on Arrow Avenue, though it's unclear if anyone was taken. In Carpinteria, seven ICE vehicles showed up in a residential neighborhood, where they pepper-sprayed a community member and detained at least one person, possibly two.

• On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, ICE carried out nearly 20 incidents across Southern California.

What’s next

The detained individuals' cases will likely proceed through the immigration court system, with the possibility of deportation. Community advocates and legal aid organizations are monitoring the situation and providing support to affected families.