San Diego lawmakers reacted with fury Monday to last weekend’s armed ICE raid on a popular South Park restaurant, accusing the federal government of heavy-handed tactics in support of arbitrary arrest goals.
Reprinted, with permission of author, from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
Rep. Juan Vargas speaks to media outside the federal courthouse in downtown San Diego. (Photo by JW August/Times of San Diego)
By JW August
June 2, 2025 (San Diego) -- “Why were ICE agents armed to the teeth as if they were entering a war zone, storming restaurants?” asked Rep. Juan Vargas at a press conference on the steps of the federal courthouse downtown.
Vargas was joined by Reps. Mike Levin, Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters, as well as Mayors Todd Gloria of San Diego and Paloma Aguirre of Imperial Beach, city councilmembers and other lawmakers.
Vargas criticized federal magistrate Judge Karen Crawford for signing the warrant leading to the raid, and demanded a meeting with her boss, Judge Cynthia Bashant, who became chief judge in January. The warrant was apparently based on a four-year-old tip.
“And that’s why we’re here, because we’re pissed off and we’re not going to allow this to happen,” Vargas said.
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