“We’re deeply concerned that Fresno County supervisors held a [Jan. 13] press conference to support ICE, while ignoring the real harm ICE raids are doing in tearing families apart across the Central Valley,” states Sukaina Hussain, deputy director of strategic initiatives at the California Immigrant Policy Center.
Central Valley–serving organizations and community leaders expressed outrage during a Jan. 16 press conference concerning statements made by Fresno County Supervisors Garry Bredefeld, Nathan Magsig and Buddey Mendes blatantly disregarding the devastating real-world impacts on families enduring fear, trauma and loss.
“It’s especially alarming [that the supervisors] would do this when there have been no reported incidents of harm to ICE agents in their districts,” adds Hussain. “These supervisors are out of touch with the people they represent.
“Law enforcement’s job is to protect local communities and uphold constitutional rights—not enable federal agents who are disrupting daily life and spreading fear.”
The organizations present at the Jan. 16 press conference called for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to
acknowledge the proven harms from ICE’s escalation in enforcement;
commit to full transparency, including public briefings, community dialogues and oversight mechanisms; and
protect civil rights, especially First Amendment freedoms, and ensure equal treatment and safety for all residents—regardless of immigration status.
“These elected officials have incredible responsibilities and yet use their platforms to support an agency that has shown no respect to our Constitution or care for the safety of our communities,” concluded Huy Tran, executive director of SIREN.
Supporting Independent Media
At its Jan. 3 meeting, the Kennedy Club of the San Joaquin Valley announced the creation of the Kennedy Club Project to Support Independent Media. The Kennedy Club is the second oldest Democratic club in Fresno County having begun in 1997.
The Kennedy Club has been a longtime supporter of the Community Alliance as an advertiser for two decades.
With its new project, the Kennedy Club intends to continue its support of the Community Alliance newspaper and extend its support to other independent media in the Central Valley.
To support the project, contact 559-435-4043 or claval@comcast.net.
Condemnation of ICE Actions
The Fresno May First Coalition strongly condemns the recent actions carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis. These operations are part of a broader, coordinated campaign of intimidation, detention and violence being waged against immigrant communities across the country.
What we are witnessing in Minneapolis is not an isolated incident. It reflects a nationwide escalation of enforcement tactics that tear families apart, criminalize migration and instill fear in our neighborhoods.
ICE continues to operate with impunity, targeting working-class communities, people of color and those already made vulnerable by unjust economic and political systems.
We stand in solidarity with the communities in Minneapolis who are resisting these attacks, as well as with all the actions and mobilizations taking place across the country demanding dignity, safety, and justice for immigrants. From California to Minnesota and beyond, our struggles are interconnected and our resistance is collective.
The Fresno May First Coalition calls for an immediate end to ICE raids, detentions and deportations. We demand an end to the militarization of our communities and the use of federal agencies to terrorize families. Our communities deserve resources, care and protection—not surveillance, incarceration and displacement.
We affirm that immigrants are essential members of our communities. No human being is illegal. We will continue to organize, mobilize and stand together until these attacks end and our communities are free from fear.
End ICE’s assault on our communities. End the raids. End the deportations.
—Fresno May First Coalition
Worst Zoos for Elephants
In Defense of Animals has released its 21st annual list of the “10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in North America,” exposing a deadly and exploitative baby elephant boom. Fresno Chaffee Zoo has been ranked No. 9 for its ongoing cycle of secrecy and shame.
The new investigation reveals how zoo breeding programs like Fresno Chaffee’s often force elephants into unnaturally early, rapid breeding and invasive reproductive procedures, leading to shortened life spans and devastating calf losses.
“Fresno Chaffee Zoo has snatched every freedom from these wild-born elephants to create unnatural family trees,” said Courtney Scott, elephant consultant for In Defense of Animals.
“Captive breeding does not save elephants in the wild; it simply restocks ticket-selling exhibits. The solution is to stop Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s unethical breeding program immediately and send the elephants to a sanctuary.”
“Zoo-bred elephants are fated to suffer from the moment they are conceived, and die at double the rate of wild babies. This industry is manufacturing babies in a bid to keep exhibits full—not to save elephants,” said Marilyn Kroplick, M.D., president of In Defense of Animals.
“True conservation happens in the wild, not behind bars. The only ethical path forward for Fresno Chaffee Zoo is to end captive breeding and move its elephants to a spacious, true sanctuary.”
Proposed 2026‒27 State Budget
Regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2026-2027 budget, Assembly Member Esmeralda Soria (D‒Merced) says that “this year’s budget must be strategic as we continue battling the federal administration’s relentless effort to unlawfully withhold millions of federal dollars from Californians.
“We must protect our most vulnerable communities and continue prioritizing affordability in California. This budget is a good start at accomplishing that and more.”
Soria draws particular attention to the following:
$233.6 million via the Rural Health Transformation Program for workforce, infrastructure and access to care in rural communities
$25.9 million for the Healthy Soils program
$14 million for the Regional Farm Equipment Sharing program
$25.2 million in ongoing funding for the Farm-to-School program
$173 million for drinking water projects serving small or disadvantaged communities
$232 million for flood control projects
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