The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office says it has seen more federal immigration agents in recent days at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas and at the county's Main Jail in San Jose, KTVU reports.
Wednesday night at Elmwood
KTVU received a tip late Wednesday, Oct. 28, that about 10 inmates were being released from Elmwood and that ICE agents were waiting outside. The station said it could not confirm whether anyone was taken into custody.
Telemundo Área de la Bahía reports that the Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network says ICE detained four people as they left the jail, and that one was taken to a hospital in San Jose. Activist Rebecca Armendariz told Telemundo that people ran toward a creek when agents approached and that agents used Tasers. A witness also told KTVU that an agent tased a man; neither outlet could independently confirm it.
The sheriff's position
Sheriff's spokesperson Brooks Jarosz told KTVU that Milpitas Fire and EMS had responded to Elmwood for an unrelated medical call involving a person in custody, and that federal agents were seen in the area as they arrived. He said the sheriff's office was not involved in what he called an "operation."
"We are aware of people being stopped, questioned, and sometimes apprehended shortly after they're released," Jarosz said, adding that ICE had not shared information about its plans. KTVU said ICE had not responded to its request for comment, and Telemundo said it was still waiting for a response.
Activists with Silicon Valley De-Bug were also at the jail on Thursday, Telemundo reports. Advocates say agent presence has grown over the past two weeks. For earlier activity, see our story on ICE at the county jails.