The mayor of Kerman, a small agricultural city in California’s Central Valley, is facing allegations after a series of confrontations involving immigration enforcement and a local resident. Maria Pacheco recorded herself confronting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on October 8 during an early-morning operation near a bakery in Kerman, a predominantly Latino community of about 17,000 residents west of Fresno.
In the video posted on social media, Pacheco identified herself as the mayor and told the agents they were not welcome, accusing them of detaining too many people and questioning how they could justify their actions. The footage attracted widespread attention and support online. Pacheco, who is currently campaigning for a seat on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, shared the video along with a fundraising appeal.
Days later, on October 14, Pacheco allegedly followed a man she suspected to be an ICE agent. The man, Eric Bridges, a Fresno-based hairdresser, reported to local authorities that Pacheco trailed him for more than 20 minutes, taking photos of his vehicle as he drove to his sister’s residence. Bridges stated he was near Kearney Park west of Fresno when an orange car quickly pulled behind him and followed him into a parking lot. He recounted that the driver circled his vehicle several times, spoke on the phone through her car’s speaker, and eventually confronted him, accusing him of being an ICE agent without providing identification.
Bridges provided a signed statement to the Fresno County district attorney’s office alleging that Pacheco acted like a vigilante and misused her position for political gain. His attorney emphasized concerns over whether Pacheco was unlawfully exerting authority as an elected official. Complaints have been filed with local law enforcement and the county prosecutor’s office. The district attorney’s Public Integrity Unit is reviewing the information, though no charges have been filed and no determination has been made regarding criminal conduct.
Pacheco declined to elaborate on the incident beyond stating, "If he wants to go to court, we will go to court." She highlighted ongoing issues in Kerman related to immigration enforcement, noting that operations have caused fear and uncertainty among local families. According to Pacheco, these actions have led to food shortages in community organizations and discouraged parents from working or leaving their homes, thereby exacerbating economic and social hardships.
The Department of Homeland Security did not provide immediate comment on the October 8 ICE operation, which reportedly resulted in four detentions near La Princesa Real Bakery, with at least one individual later released due to lawful immigration status. The community tensions reflect broader challenges in the Central Valley, where recent immigration enforcement activities have unsettled agricultural labor markets and daily life in farming towns.