As California National Guard troops engage protesters in Los Angeles, Fresno County Board Chairman Buddy Mendes says its time to stop calling violent actions protests and start calling them “riots.”

Speaking to GV Wire, Mendes called what was happening in Los Angeles following at least one immigration raid at a warehouse and a protest near a Home Depot that turned violent a “sad deal,” saying “they’re not protests, they’re riots.”

Supervisor Garry Bredefeld echoed those sentiments.

“I support anyone’s right to protest peacefully,” Bredefeld said. “What is happening in LA, however, are riots, attacks on our police, anarchy and it’s supported by the cowardice and radical policies of (Gov. Gavin) Newsom and (Los Angeles Mayor Karen) Bass.”

However, Supervisor Luis Chavez sys President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have panicked immigrant communities. He said law enforcement can protect the community without immigration raids at places of business.

“We have this schizophrenic, bipolar system in our country where with one hand we wave immigrants in to do the difficult labor work in our agriculture industry, in our housing industry, and our building and in our service industry,'” Chavez said. “And with the other hand, we tell them that they can’t be part of our community.”

Protests Show Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Chavez

The Los Angeles Times reported that protesters hurled items at law enforcement, which responded with less-than-lethal weapons. Protesters destroyed vehicles and made their way onto a freeway.

Under Trump, about 2,000 National Guard troops could be fully deployed by Wednesday. Multiple news outlets at the scene reported about 300 soldiers stationed near the federal building Monday afternoon and evening.

Protests began after border patrol agents had been spotted across the street from a Home Depot. Federal law enforcement operates a facility in Paramount. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to a request from GV Wire about the reason for border patrol agents’ presence.

On Monday, thousands flooded the streets around City Hall for a union rally ahead of a hearing for arrested labor leader David Huerta, who was freed a few hours later on a $50,000 bond. Huerta’s arrest Friday while protesting immigration raids has become a rallying cry for people angry over the administration’s crackdown.

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Chavez, the Fresno County supervisor, said the protests demonstrates the need for comprehensive immigration reform. During the pandemic, many immigrants were deemed essential, but now, they’re treated as disposable.

Chavez says the Trump administration is being hypocritical because even though Republican leaders often stereotype immigrants as “lazy,” immigration raids are conducted at places of employment. Border patrol agents subpoena IRS documents, which Chavez says means immigrants pay taxes. And despite being told to follow the rules, immigration raids occur at courthouses, Chavez says.

ICE Actions Keeping Communities Safe: Bredefeld

The protest outside the Home Depot took place a day after federal officials raided a retail and distribution warehouse where law enforcement arrested Huerta, who is president of Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of the state’s janitors, security officers and other workers..

The SEIU says Huerta was acting a “community observer.”

“We call for an end to the cruel, destructive, and indiscriminate ICE raids that are tearing apart our communities, disrupting our economy, and hurting all working people,” SEIU officials said in a statement.

Bredefeld said he fully supports ICE enforcing federal laws and removing criminal illegal aliens.

“ICE is doing its job in getting criminal illegal aliens out of our country,” Bredefeld said. “These are dangerous criminals who have committed murder, rapes, trafficking, and have serious drug offenses. I support ICE and all law enforcement in making our communities safe.”

Raids Aren’t Needed to Find Criminal Illegal Immigrants: Chavez

After ICE raids in Fresno in January, Chavez said food processing plants and farms reported vacancies anywhere from 25% to 40%. He said if that continues, he doesn’t think Fresno County can generate the $8.6 billion in revenue agriculture it normally does.

Chavez said law enforcement can get rid of criminal illegal immigrants without doing raids that frighten immigrant communities. He said law enforcement has the ability to coordinate with immigration enforcement.

Of the 26,214 bookings at the Fresno County Jail, ICE conducted 102 transfers, according to data from the Sheriff’s Office.

Of those, 52 were crimes against someone else, three were sex crimes, 41 were crimes against property, and six were felony drug crimes.

Those numbers show most of the immigrant community aren’t criminals, Chavez said. The numbers also demonstrate that law enforcement can coordinate with ICE.

Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni has previously said that California law under Senate Bill 54 makes it hard to coordinate with immigration enforcement.

Even under that law, though, state law enforcement still has to notify federal officials about heinous crimes.

Chavez also said he was concerned about the Huerta arrest without due process.

“If a reputable labor leader can be a victim of this type of incident, what’s expected from immigrants that are undocumented that don’t have a voice, that don’t have 750,000 union members that can advocate for them,” Chavez said. “This is America, we’re not under an authoritarian rule. We have a due process that needs to be followed.”