Though the scale of immigration enforcement wasn\u2019t equivalent in Santa Clara County, Campos said it felt close to home as a Latina. She said she saw how the government tried to control the narrative of what happened during ICE deployments, which made documenting incidents more vital. Her convictions are what drove her to become active in helping monitor her community, and what led to her being detained last fall.<\/p>\n
As Campos stationed herself outside the field office to observe, an ICE van entered the parking lot. Campos began recording from the sidewalk. Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer Douglas Plummer then came outside the field office and positioned himself in front of her, obstructing her ability to record, according to the lawsuit \u2014 which claims Campos didn\u2019t interfere with the operations.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit alleges Plummer told Campos to back up, and without giving her time to respond pushed against her. He grabbed Campos\u2019 arm that held her phone, causing it to fling out of her hand. He slammed her against her car, where another agent handcuffed her. It left her with bruises on her arms and legs, and marks on her wrist. Her 2-year-old daughter was in the car and witnessed the encounter.<\/p>\n
Campos was detained for 30 minutes before being released and told she would receive a call about her charges in the coming days. There were no calls following her release and she has yet to be charged, according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
Campos said she doesn\u2019t like to stay silent when injustice occurs, which inspired her to pursue the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis lawsuit is not just for me, it\u2019s for the people who stand up for those who can\u2019t do it themselves,\u201d Campos said. \u201cIt\u2019s important for us as people to hold them accountable to that. It\u2019s important for us to also advocate for justice for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
ICE spokesperson Jason B. Sweeny said the agency will \u201cuphold the rule of law\u201d and protect its officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly, not rioting,\u201d Sweeny told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cDHS law enforcement will continue to enforce the laws of our nation, just as they do every day across the country. We will address any use of force lawsuit with the court, not the media.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacklyn Alonzo, a spokesperson for the Rapid Response Network, said Campos\u2019 experience shows why ICE observers are vital.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen government agents operate without transparency or accountability, trained community witnesses help ensure that abuses cannot be hidden,\u201d Alonzo told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cAttempts to intimidate our volunteers will not deter us from protecting our neighbors, documenting injustice and standing alongside families affected by immigration enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campos is not aware of other observers in Santa Clara County who have been detained or are pursuing legal remedies, though others in the U.S. have sued the federal administration for violating their First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n
Last year, the Los Angeles Press Club, independent journalists and a legal observer brought legal action against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after agents used tear gas and stun grenades<\/a> against protesters.<\/p>\n In July, a federal court issued an injunction blocking<\/a> DHS agents from using force to obstruct journalists, observers or members of the public from documenting immigration enforcement operations.<\/p>\n Julie Mao, senior staff attorney at Just Futures Law who is representing Campos, said they must continue to hold the government accountable.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot let ICE continue to unlawfully retaliate and intimidate people who exercise their constitutional right to record and observe law enforcement,\u201d Mao told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cWe thank our client for her courage to stand up to defend her and the community\u2019s rights.\u201d<\/p>\n Campos said she was able to remain calm during the encounter despite being a sexual assault survivor, and felt relieved she was able to go home to her family. But the emotional toll for people taken to detention centers lingers.<\/p>\n ICE detention facilities have been rife with alleged human rights violations, with reports of inhumane living conditions, sexual abuse<\/a>, unsanitary food<\/a> and inadequate medical care<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember this person that they loaded onto the van was a woman, and I\u2019m like, does she have children?\u201d Campos said. \u201cThey\u2019re being taken from their home, and they\u2019re being put into these facilities where they\u2019re not getting the care that they need. They\u2019re probably not being fed, they\u2019re probably barely getting any water.\u201d<\/p>\n Campos sees a gap in the immigration system where people don\u2019t have a place to go for services after being released from detention. She said funding should exist for social workers to follow up with people upon release and for immigrants to get health screenings.<\/p>\n Beyond obtaining justice for her case, Campos wants to inspire others to stand up and speak out against wrongdoing.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery change in our history is because the people did something about it,\u201d Campos said. \u201cWe spoke up. We took to the streets. We voted. We got women\u2019s rights. That\u2019s how we have civil rights, (how) desegregation happened. Because the people did something about it, and so that\u2019s what I\u2019m hoping this encourages in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789497370_675_interactive-321838904008.png\")
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