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A video circulating on social media showing a man being placed into an unmarked dark-colored Nissan by multiple masked individuals prompted concern from local immigrant advocates and residents in Redwood City this week.
The video, recorded near Cedar Street and Hilton Street on July 1, appeared to show law enforcement-like figures detaining someone in broad daylight. But immigrant advocates say while ICE is active in San Mateo County, the video has not been verified and may not show federal agents.
“It was a video that was running (Tuesday),” said a representative from Rapid Response– San Mateo County, a community-based network that operates a 24/7 hotline to respond to reports of ICE activity, offering emergency legal assistance to detainees and support for their families, who confirmed that the organization was aware of the video.
Rapid Response confirmed that another individual was detained by ICE on July 1 in the county in what they called a targeted arrest — a practice the group said continues in the county despite no reports of mass raids.
However, Rapid Response could not confirm whether the man in the video was the same individual confirmed to have been arrested by ICE on the same day.
“We haven’t seen any mass arrests anywhere in the county,” the representative said. “Raids are not happening yet here. We (see) targeted arrests in the county — that is happening.”
The group cautioned against spreading unverified videos or rumors that may cause panic in immigrant communities, particularly given heightened national anxiety around immigration enforcement.
“Social media, people love to post, but that only creates panic if we don’t verify,” the representative said. “It takes five or ten minutes to arrest someone and they leave. So if people don’t call us on time, we can’t connect them to attorneys.”
Redwood City Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos, in a statement, said the Redwood City Police Department was not involved in the activity shown in the video, and “our local officers do not participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws or conduct sweeps looking for undocumented individuals.”
The City of Redwood City serves all members of the public equally—regardless of their immigration status,” he said.
“We believe the best way to support public safety and trust is to share information about our law enforcement efforts. I urge federal agencies and leadership to share information as well,” he added.
Martínez Saballos also said that he wanted to inform the public that, “on occasion, federal authorities may be in Redwood City on law enforcement matters unrelated to immigration.”
President Donald Trump, who was re-elected in November, vowed to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. That promise has already played out in cities like Los Angeles, where ICE clashed with civilians last month during a targeted operation, escalating tensions and fueling widespread fear. While Trump has not made good on threats to arrest California officials like Gov. Gavin Newsom or Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass, those statements have added to the climate of uncertainty.
In a City Council meeting last month, Martínez Saballos sought to reassure residents that the city and its police department are not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
“Our police department is only arresting and detaining individuals based on probable cause of a crime or pursuant to the California Values Act,” Martínez Saballos said, adding that the city “is committed to supporting and celebrating all of our neighbors, of all backgrounds.”
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus issued a similar statement, saying her office complies only with judicial warrants and does not enforce federal immigration laws.
“We serve our stated mission to protect life, property, and public peace for all members of our community, regardless of anyone’s immigration status,” she said.
The San Mateo County Rapid Response Network continues to urge residents to contact them immediately if they witness potential ICE activity so they can verify the incident and offer legal support.
“Our job is not just to know if ICE is here or there,” the representative said. “We verify what happened, we connect attorneys to the person, and we support the family.”
They emphasized that knowing your rights remains the best defense.
“ICE is everywhere right now — all over the country,” they said. “Knowing your rights and using them is the best way to protect yourself.”
For more information or resources, connect with the Rapid Response Network here.
