On October 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an unprecedented attack on VC Defensa, a grassroots organization committed to immigrant and community safety, support and civil and human rights in light of recent violent and often illegal ICE raids and deportations throughout Ventura County. The DOJ issued a press release accusing VC Defensa activists of “impeding” ICE officers, and set up a sting operation in Oxnard to arrest members of VC Defensa’s rapid response team.*

As concerned people of faith and goodwill, we are compelled to speak and act publicly against governmental attempts to criminalize groups providing effective organizing in our community to protect immigrants and other vulnerable people from immoral government overreach in immigration raids and arrests.

We stand with all across the United States who oppose the escalating campaign of fear and repression by heavily armed and masked ICE agents, and who support the civil and human rights of immigrants and their families. We appreciate that since January 2025, the hotlines managed by VC Defensa and 805 Undocufund have served as key point of contacts for members of our communities who are living in fear of arrest and detention by ICE, Border Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies due to real or perceived irregular status. 

VC Defensa and 805 Undocufund, whose volunteers include members of our faith congregations and organizations, respond to hotline calls within minutes, are at the scene to help quickly quash rumors, verify and document ICE arrests when they occur, and provide families with needed information about anyone detained. Both organizations provide food to families who are suddenly without their key bread winners, and they have led dozens of “Know Your Rights” trainings in churches, libraries and other public and private spaces, equipping hundreds of volunteers to help protect our neighbors.

Our Abrahamic traditions call us to act. During this Advent and Christmas season, Christians remember how Jesus of Nazareth was an undocumented refugee who suffered displacement and marginalization by a hostile regime. Hebrew scripture emphasizes, “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love them as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I, the Eternal, am your God.” (Leviticus 19:33) And in Matthew 25:35, Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

We call for an end to intimidation tactics by the Department of Justice, FBI, CPB, ICE, state and local law enforcement against members of our community. And we stand in solidarity with the community services provided by VC Defensa and 805 Undocufund, because in our democracy, neither federal, state, nor county authorities have the right to target or criminalize community organizations that lawfully defend civil and human rights

   * See Ojai Valley News article: https://archive.is/4jw2A; also https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2025/10/29/federal-agents-descend-on-oxnard-in-early-morning-raid/86965289007/