California residents want local governments to end contracts that let ICE train on their gun ranges

"We don't want ICE anywhere near Escondido or fraternizing with the police, said Richard Garner, 71, while rallying against the deal outside the city's police station. A majority of Americans in recent polls have said Trump has gone too far in sending federal immigration agents into American cities."

"Beyond the mass street demonstrations in Minneapolis, people in communities from New York to California are objecting to longstanding contracts between ICE and local governments for services ranging from the use of training facilities to parking spaces. The agency has also angered local communities caught off guard by ICE's plans to occupy giant warehouses, some that could house as many as 10,000 immigration detainees."

"Amid the debate, funding for the Department of Homeland Security has been put on hold. Democrats are saying they will not help approve more money until new limits are placed on federal immigration operations following the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good last month in Minneapolis."

ICE officers have trained at an Escondido, California police department range for over a decade with minimal public attention until recent events prompted widespread community opposition. Trump's immigration enforcement actions and fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis intensified scrutiny of ICE operations nationwide. Residents in Escondido and communities across the country are demanding cities terminate contracts with ICE for training facilities, parking, and other services. Demonstrations have grown as Americans express concern about federal immigration agents operating in cities. The controversy extends to ICE plans for large detention warehouses. Democrats have halted Department of Homeland Security funding pending new restrictions on federal immigration operations following the Minneapolis shootings.

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