02-03-2025
Threats of ICE raids sweep through Fresno's flea markets. It's ‘fear mongering,' owner says
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It was only 9 in the morning and Librado Maya could tell already it would be a slow day for his flea market business.
Other than the Latin music heard from a nearby loud speaker, there was little to no bustle at the usually popular Cherry Avenue Auction just off Highway 41 in south Fresno.
Maya emerged from under his tent where he sells new athletic shoes to scope out the rest of the swap meet. It wasn't just his area that lacked customers. Hardly anyone was walking around or shopping.
'That's not normal for a Saturday morning,' said Maya, who has been selling at various flea markets the past two years.
'A lot of people usually show up early to check things out and kind of set the pace for the rest of the day. I know it was kind of cold. We were trying to figure out why there weren't as many people showing up.'
Maya later learned there had been social media posts of immigration raids being conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in other spots in Central California.
Was ICE targeting someone or many people among the heavily Latino-based clientele at Cherry Avenue Auction?
What about at other popular local swap meets such as the Big Fresno Flea Market or Selma Flea Market?
Was any of this true?
Regardless, the general fear of being detained by ICE was very real.
And the sharp decline of flea market business during the first few weeks of 2025 seemed to reflect such anxiety.
'All the markets are feeling it,' said Brian Parisi, who heads the Big Fresno Flea Market that's held on the Fresno Fairgrounds south-area parking lot. 'Rumors go around 'Hey, they're coming out looking for you. They're coming out to flea markets.'
'All the markets have had some impact. We talked to a few, and one in particular, his business was down 50%.'
While much of the fears of ICE raids occurred in January, foot traffic at local flea markets has since increased as the weather warmed up.
On back-to-back weekends in February, both the Big Fresno Flea Market and the Cherry Avenue Auction were filled with people of various ages and ethnic backgrounds throughout the day.
Nonetheless, some folks expressed concern that ICE could show up at any time.
As well as the possibility that agents could veer from the agency's priority to arrest noncitizens with pending criminal cases and/or prior criminal convictions, and start detaining anyone under a subjective notion that a person is considered 'a threat to public safety or national security.'
'The reality is (for) a private business like this, they would have to have a warrant,' Parisi said. 'We try to convince everyone that you're safe here.
'But again, we have no control over what the government is going to do.'
Neil Burson and his brother have owned and operated the Cherry Avenue Auction since 2001, and had his team issue a social media post in late January to try to ease concerns about ICE targeting random people who are shopping.
'It's a lot of fear mongering,' Burson said. 'Someone said ICE will be out there on a certain day. Our demographic is a large Hispanic market. Some people were afraid and stayed away. I haven't seen ICE myself. It's a rumor that just becomes fear mongering.
'We care incredibly for our community, and the spread of false rumors is concerning.'
Immigration attorney Sarwinder Singh Dhanjan said ICE typically goes after specific individuals — not conducting mass roundups to sort out who's in the country illegally.
'They're usually looking for someone with a criminal history,' Singh Dhanjan said. 'I don't think they're just going to raid the market — unless they feel someone is a danger to the public.'
The Fresno-based lawyer said he gets one to two new clients a day who want help with their immigration status, and confirmed that immigration raids have occurred in Fresno County, just as they have throughout the United States.
According to NBC News, ICE agents were told to meet a quota of 1,200 to 1,400 arrests per day.
'I do think to some extent it is fear mongering,' Singh Dhanjan said. 'People on social media make it seem like ICE is everywhere. ICE has been in Fresno. I haven't heard of ICE going to flea markets yet. But I do suspect it could happen.
'The bottom line is, criminal record or no criminal record, for someone who is here illegally, there always has been a possibility they could get picked up because of the simple fact that they were here illegally.'
The long line of customers waiting to order Chinese chow mein noodles was one sign that business at the Big Fresno Flea Market was picking up in mid-February after the drop in attendance the previous month.
Moms and dad pushed toddlers around in strollers while browsing from tent shop to tent shop and occasionally stopping to eat.
Others searched for items that caught their attention like shiny, new gardening tools or antiques that may have been in storage for years.
A few people were motivated to buy if only they found a good deal, such as soft blankets with sports teams logos for $30.
That's part of the lure to attending any flea markets and swap meets: enjoying food, getting items at a lower price or spotting things that might be tougher to find.
'You can find just about anything you can think of,' said Parisi, who has headed the Big Fresno Flea Market since 2020. 'Home essentials. Fresh vegetables and fruits. Toys. Clothes.
'Some items might be used; some are brand new. And you get them at a better price.'
While it's unknown how many customers and even vendors stopped coming out to swap meets due to the threat of raids, vendors said they noticed sales were down.
Claudia Vanegas, who with her mother operates a toy store at the Cherry Avenue Auction on Saturdays and at the Big Fresno Flea Market on Sundays, said sales dropped 20% compared to a year ago.
'The majority of the customers are Spanish speakers and maybe even farm workers,' Vanegas said. 'Their money can go further at a flea market. So when they're not going, we notice.'
Burson, who heads the Cherry Avenue Auction, said his flea market is starting to get back on track after a slow January.
He highlighted how flea markets aren't just about the savings but the experience of seeing a vast amount of items for sale, and enjoying the food and beverages available, and music.
'We want to provide an experience,' Burson said. 'Come out with your family for a safe time of shopping. Spend money and buy stuff, or don't spend and just enjoy the atmosphere.
'The flea market culture is very dynamic; definitely not a boring industry.'
Which is why Singh Dhanjan, the Fresno-based immigration attorney, strongly advised that those whose status in the United States is considered illegal to hire a lawyer to help with their paperwork and status to try to become legal citizens.
'You want to get an attorney beforehand, because now, the (government) is trying to expedite the process and remove you if you are arrested because of your immigration status,' Singh Dhanjan said. 'You might not have the time to get a lawyer before you're detained or deported.
'Here's the other thing. What's making people scared isn't that they're illegal. They've known they're illegal. They're not scared of that. They're scared because they don't have a plan if they're found out. A lawyer will help people come up with a plan.
'The other option is you never go out in public again, like to the flea market, and you're in constant hiding,' Singh Dhanjan added. 'But you can't hide and expect to have immigration benefits. You've got to pick and choose.
'And if you're choosing to be illegally out there, you better be more careful.'
Meanwhile, vendors like Vanegas are crossing their fingers that business will continue to get better and make coming out to flea markets worthwhile.
'We need them,' Vanegas said. 'They're our customers. They're part of our community.'
