A Fresno immigrant rights group is stopping short of calling for a boycott, but wants federal officials and local businesses to show more respect.

“(ICE is) dehumanizing and criminalizing the population. They said they were going to go after criminals, and they’re going after anybody … caught in the dragnet,” organizer Stan Santos said.

According to tracreports.org, 40,433 out of 56,397—or 71.7%—of people held in ICE detention have no criminal record through June 15. Many others have only minor offenses such as traffic tickets.

The May 1st Committee for Immigrants Rights, and Raza Against War spoke to the media Thursday in front of Fresno City Hall.

Santos encouraged local businesses, including flea markets, to not allow ICE agents on their property without a warrant. That includes the Cherry Avenue Auction, just south of Fresno.

At the June 12 Fresno City Council meeting, Councilmember Miguel Arias warned the public of a pending ICE raid at the swap meet.

No raid ever came, and Arias claimed on social media that his comments deterred any police action. ICE did not comment.

“The Cherry vendors, they want to work, they want to serve the people, but they need the support from the owner,” advocate Leonel Flores said.

Flores held a sign in Spanish that roughly translated to: “Don’t spend money where you are not valued.”

Neil Burson, owner of the Cherry Avenue Auction, said he would follow the law if ICE agents appear.

“If ICE has a warrant, we’ll let them in. We’ve not dealt with ICE . You don’t how they approach us. If they don’t have a warrant, we will ask them for a warrant,” Burson said. “That’s all I can do, is ask for a warrant. If they push me to the ground, I’m not going to get up and fight the guy.”

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No Boycott, But …

While Santos specifically said he would not call for a boycott, community advocate Gloria Hernandez had other thoughts about any flea market or other business deemed unfriendly to immigrants.

“We won’t spend our money when we’re not welcome,” Hernandez said.

Santos addressed the flags of several nations flying at the news conference, recalling a Ronald Reagan quote of America being a welcoming place for immigrants.

Groups Downplay Arias Comments

Santos and others said whether Arias’ comments were accurate or not is “irrelevant.”

“This is an individual who we have confidence in. We don’t believe he would have done it otherwise if it hadn’t been based on some concrete facts,” Santos said.

Arias declined to speak further with GV Wire about why he made comments on seemingly unverified information.

“Whether it was valid or not, it’s not the issue. What is the issue is the rumor started, whether it’s from him or anybody else, because we heard it elsewhere too, people reacted,” Hernandez said.

Burson said his swap meet and others in the Central Valley have suffered economically.

“It was a reckless comment that damaged a lot of vendors,” Burson said. “One of our big concerns is the well-being of the vendors that we’re being told we don’t care about.”

Hernandez did not believe that sharing unverified information is “fearmongering.”

“I assume that comes from you (the media) all because the misinformation creates that,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez would not share what information she had that ICE is “out there.”

Related Story: Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim