Latest news with #JuliaBrownley
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local officials say ICE ‘loitered near schools' in Ventura County raids
Federal officials confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids took place in Ventura County on Tuesday. 'FBI Los Angeles and partner agencies conducted immigration enforcement operations in the Ventura County area today in support of ERO Los Angeles,' the agency announced on X. In response, local congressmembers Julia Brownley (D-Ventura County) and Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo counties) released a joint statement, calling the recent immigration sweeps 'cruel,' 'reckless' and 'unconscionable.' 'We have received disturbing reports of ICE enforcement actions in Ventura County, including in Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Camarillo, where agents have reportedly stopped vehicles, loitered near schools, and attempted to enter agricultural properties and facilities in the Oxnard Plain,' read the statement. 'These actions are completely unjustified, deeply harmful, and raise serious questions about the agency's tactics and its respect for due process.' Out of multiple videos posted on social media earlier in the day, one shared to Instagram by 805 UndocuFund, a nonprofit that helps undocumented residents get short-term financial relief, shows ICE agents questioning a worker with a bright yellow shirt next to the Camarillo fields along Laguna Road. The group is standing next to a black, unmarked vehicle; it is unclear whether the car belonged to the unidentified worker or the federal officers. 'Hola?' the woman filming the interaction asks the group from afar, inquiring in Spanish about what the federal officers are doing with the worker. This purportedly took place at 5:30 a.m. 'Mind your own business,' an ICE officer responds to the woman, telling her to stay back. 'They know their right, they've been here for 30 years, they get it. We're doing our job.' The woman responds, saying, 'We don't want people to be separated from their families—I don't think you get it,' to which the officer replies, 'Are you here legally?' She asks back, 'How are you asking me that right now?' and he responds, 'Because that's my job, I'm an immigration officer. Do you have documents to be here?' When the woman says she doesn't have to answer his question, the ICE agent says, 'Fine, so, leave—you're right.' And then he and the other officers go back to detaining the worker. The Central Coast congressmembers addressed in their statement how immigration officers have recently been targeting open-air workplaces, such as farms, construction sites and service industries. 'ICE should be focused on individuals who pose real threats to public safety, not terrorizing entire communities with broad, unjust sweeps,' their statement said. 'This is not how you keep people safe.' For information on resources and how to respond to ICE raids, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: Spider monkeys belong in the wild, not in the brutal pet primate trade
To the editor: The recent case of a young spider monkey rescued during a drug bust in Vallejo highlights the urgent need to ban the cruel and dangerous pet primate trade in this country ('Baby spider monkey rescued from suspected meth dealer's home. Now, a new life awaits,' May 17). Although we do not know the background of this particular monkey, there has been an alarming increase in reports of infant spider monkeys smuggled across our southern border in recent months, driven by Americans' insatiable demand for pet monkeys. Poachers slaughter mother spider monkeys in the wild and then steal their babies, shoving them into boxes, bags and car trunks for a brutal journey to the U.S.-Mexico border. Upon arrival, these criminals attempt to smuggle the animals into the United States to supply the legal and lucrative exotic pet trade. This type of wildlife trafficking often occurs within criminal networks that are also responsible for drug, weapons and human trafficking, threatening our national security. The recently introduced federal Captive Primate Safety Act, co-led by Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) with five other California co-sponsors, would prohibit private ownership of nonhuman primates to protect both these animals and the public. We must pass this legislation now to keep these monkeys in the wild — where they belong. Kate Dylewsky, Washington, writer is the assistant government affairs director for the Animal Welfare Institute. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: Spider monkeys belong in the wild, not in the brutal pet primate trade
To the editor: The recent case of a young spider monkey rescued during a drug bust in Vallejo highlights the urgent need to ban the cruel and dangerous pet primate trade in this country ('Baby spider monkey rescued from suspected meth dealer's home. Now, a new life awaits,' May 17). Although we do not know the background of this particular monkey, there has been an alarming increase in reports of infant spider monkeys smuggled across our southern border in recent months, driven by Americans' insatiable demand for pet monkeys. Poachers slaughter mother spider monkeys in the wild and then steal their babies, shoving them into boxes, bags and car trunks for a brutal journey to the U.S.-Mexico border. Upon arrival, these criminals attempt to smuggle the animals into the United States to supply the legal and lucrative exotic pet trade. This type of wildlife trafficking often occurs within criminal networks that are also responsible for drug, weapons and human trafficking, threatening our national security. The recently introduced federal Captive Primate Safety Act, co-led by Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) with five other California co-sponsors, would prohibit private ownership of nonhuman primates to protect both these animals and the public. We must pass this legislation now to keep these monkeys in the wild — where they belong. Kate Dylewsky, Washington, writer is the assistant government affairs director for the Animal Welfare Institute.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Letters to editor: Poor policies in California; wrong vote by Brownley
Letters to editor: Poor policies in California; wrong vote by Brownley California's policies must change Watching the horrible fires develop over the last two weeks shows how we need to change our policies here in California. Those of us who have lived in this state have come to expect this every fall and winter. We are still voting for so-called leaders because they are promising the wrong things — to save a fish or frog or what sounds good to people. We need more controlled burns like they used to do in the 1970s and 1980s. Where is the call for impeachment for Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass.? Heaven forbid this had happened under a Republican administration. To the GOP party chairwoman, why are you not speaking out more about this.? So as always everyone in government or politics all they care about is their title and not the little person. To help prevent this in the future, please change the policies and make our state safe again. Ray Sobrino Jr., Thousand Oaks Brownley must answer for vote The Laken Riley Act was approved in the U.S. House of Representatives by a wide margin (263-159), and now goes to President Trump for his signature. Unfortunately, our local House representative Julia Brownley voted against it. Laken, a student at the University of Georgia, was out on a jog a year ago when she was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. He had previously been arrested for shoplifting but had been released from custody. This bill is a common-sense answer to the crime sweeping our country by undocumented immigrants crossing our borders. At last count by ICE, there are 110,000 people with offenses referenced in the bill. With amendments added in the Senate, it will detain illegal immigrants charged with or convicted of theft-related crimes, assault of a law officer or crimes that cause death or serious injury. These people have already broken one law by entering our country illegally. They are not good people and should be detained if they commit another crime. This bill will protect innocent victims like Laken from dying. We need to ask Julia Brownley why she voted against this bill. Keeping Americans safe should be her No. 1 priority. Public safety demands action by our legislators. We need to remember Julia Brownley's no vote when she is on the ballot again in two years. Doug Blois, Camarillo Ignoring the teachings of Jesus Can you truly call yourself a Christian if you ignore the teachings of Jesus? Or are you simply a hypocrite dressed up in a sheep costume? Gary Selvaggio, Simi Valley
