In just the past week, the Rapid Response Network of Kern (RRNK) has fielded more than 200 tips from residents reporting possible immigration enforcement activity across Kern County. As federal agents ramp up mass deportations in nearby Los Angeles, fear is spreading that Kern could once again become the site of aggressive raids like those seen in January, when dozens of residents were arrested in early morning sweeps.
Formed in 2018 during the Trump administration, the RRNK is a volunteer-driven coalition that defends and supports immigrant communities facing the threat of detention or deportation. By partnering with local advocates and organizations, RRNK provides legal aid, emergency response, and direct assistance to families caught in the crosshairs of federal immigration crackdowns.
Oliver Ma, a volunteer attorney with the ACLU of Southern California, works with Kern’s Rapid Response Network to provide legal support. In an interview with Kern Sol News, Ma shared what the responsibilities of the Rapid Response team entail.
“We found out during the raids in January that there is a huge difference in outcomes for people who were arrested in the dark versus people who had the community behind their back,” said Ma. “And the reason there’s this gap is because we have the Kern Rapid Response Network set up. So when people call our hotline and say that ICE is in their neighborhood, we’ll send a team of volunteers out to check it out.”
The Rapid Response team includes community leaders, legal responders, legal observers, accompaniment volunteers, rapid responders, a hotline team, and individuals who assist with food distribution for families or individuals who may be too afraid to leave their homes due to ICE’s presence.
Ma explained that RRNK aims to dispatch volunteers within fifteen minutes across Kern County, though arrival times can vary. Currently, the Rapid Response team operates in Wasco, Shafter, Delano, and Tehachapi.
“When the [Rapid Responders] show up, they examine the situation, make sure people know their rights, and document what is happening,” said Ma. “If anyone is arrested, they alert our volunteer attorneys. Or, if someone’s family member is arrested, they call us and we connect them directly with attorneys, such as myself.”
Rapid Responders receive legal observation training to respond to ICE processing centers or to assist with pre-screening. They also support public protests by documenting police interactions.
During the first raids conducted in Kern County, a lawsuit revealed that individuals were targeted based on their skin color or job occupation. El Centro Border Patrol Sector, the same agency that carried out “Operation Return to Sender” in Bakersfield, is now leading the mass deportations in Los Angeles. Gregory Bovino, the man in charge of the raids in Kern County, is also overseeing the widespread arrests in Los Angeles.
In a press conference Thursday with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Bovino addressed the public, stating, “We’re here, and we’re not going away… You’ll see us, and you’ll continue to see us.”
According to Ma, the first 24 hours after individuals are apprehended are the most critical, as ICE officials actively pressure and threaten detainees to self-deport.
“[People] are kept in a room that’s only a few degrees above freezing. There are usually no windows. You’re kept in a room with benches—no beds, no showers, no drinking water. People often lose track of time,” explained Ma, describing the processing conditions.
Recently, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would offer up to $1,000 or debt forgiveness to individuals who voluntarily self-deport. DHS also stated that those who refuse may face jail time. Similar tactics are being used in detention centers, where agents coerce individuals into signing self-deportation documents.
“It’s an exceptional amount of psychological pressure, and a lot of people end up signing,” said Ma. “But if we’re able to meet with people during that time, we can tell them that what ICE is saying isn’t true. They are only allowed to hold you for a limited amount of time.”
Ma emphasized that people do have the right to fight their cases, and some win. However, early communication is vital. Volunteer attorneys can meet with detained individuals if they are provided with their names and TIN numbers.
“The Rapid Response Network is important because otherwise, we could show up to the processing center every day and never be able to meet with anyone,” Ma added.
Vicky Garrido, a Rapid Responder with RRNK, first got involved in January during the initial raids that instilled fear in Kern’s immigrant communities. Garrido, who grew up in Lamont and later moved to Bakersfield, said she joined the organization to stand up for her community.
“I come from undocumented parents, and those are my people,” Garrido said. “So instantly, I thought, ‘I have to do something,’ because a lot of them are afraid.” Since January, she has conducted early 5 a.m. patrols on behalf of concerned community members.
With the amount of misinformation surrounding ICE’s presence in Kern County, Garrido and others emphasized that unless sightings are verified by the Rapid Response Network of Kern, they should not be assumed to be true. Still, Rapid Responders will investigate and patrol reported locations regardless.
Garrido encourages community members with the means to join the Rapid Response Network and serve as a voice for those who cannot.
“No one is alone,” she said. “They have people to speak up for them and make them feel a little more at ease.”
