Volunteers confront suspected ICE vehicle in downtown SLO. ‘This is a coward’

An unmarked vehicle that community organizers said belonged to federal immigration agents circled San Luis Obispo Superior Court on Wednesday — weaving through streets and an alleyway during a two-hour confrontation with community organizers before returning to Santa Maria.

When reached for comment by The Tribune, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to confirm if the vehicle belonged to one of its agents to protect officer safety, an agency spokesperson said.

ICE agents have detained at least two people from the courthouse this year, so community organizers said they watch the building closely for ICE activity.

The vehicle eventually drove back to Santa Maria on Wednesday, without taking anyone into custody from San Luis Obispo, 805UndocuFund community organizer Cesar Vasquez said.

Community organizers said they didn’t see the driver leave the vehicle — which they saw as a win for efforts to dissuade ICE from detaining individuals locally.

“Yesterday was the first real example that we are able to push ICE out of our city,” Vasquez told The Tribune. “And it’s so necessary, because yesterday in SLO we were able to successfully prevent a kidnapping from happening.”

The dark blue Ford Expedition was first reported outside the courthouse at 10:12 a.m., according to 805 UndocuFund’s Rapid Response Hotline, which sends out text alerts of potential ICE sightings.

At 10:35 a.m., a Tribune reporter saw the unmarked vehicle parked outside the Palm Street entrance to the courthouse. The windows of the vehicle were tinted, but it appeared to have one occupant in the driver’s seat.

The vehicle had a back license plate, number 9JRT511, but not a front license plate.

Members of the 805 Immigrant Rapid Response Network have seen a Ford Expedition with that license plate parked at the ICE facility in Santa Maria and present at ICE raids in the community, Vasquez said.

“It was a vehicle that we could bet some serious money on being ICE,” he told The Tribune. He was not present at the courthouse on Wednesday, but he received reports from co-organizers about what happened.

The vehicle was seen circling the block once around 10:45 a.m. before returning to the Palm Street entrance.

A group of about 15 community organizers assembled at the courthouse, with some stationed at the Palm Street and Monterey Street entrances to warn people that ICE was in the area, while others followed the Ford Expedition in their own cars and on foot.

The vehicle continued to circle the neighborhood, occasionally parking on different streets before community organizers found it and yelled at the driver to leave.

At about 11:50 a.m., the Ford Expedition drove into the alley between Palm and Mill streets. Three organizers chased after the vehicle on foot, yelling at the driver to leave the city.

“Get out. Nobody wants you,” one organizer yelled.

The organizer continued to yell at the vehicle while it paused outside the alleyway, preparing to drive onto Osos Street.

“Shame on you, you kidnappers,” the organizer yelled. “This is ICE. This is a coward.”

At about 11:57 a.m., a San Luis Obispo Police Department officer rode to the alley on his bike to ask the organizers why they were yelling. They explained to the police officer that they were monitoring ICE, and the officer left.

Vasquez questioned why ICE officials drive in unmarked vehicles. He noted that other immigration agents wear masks to hide their identities.

“Why should someone who is following the law, why should someone who is apparently doing the good work, be masked?” he said.

According to a video taken by a bystander at the scene, Vasquez said it looked like police at one point offered the Ford Expedition a security escort out of the alley.

Vasquez shared the video with The Tribune. It showed a Ford Expedition parked in the alleyway, before an Atascadero Police Department car drove around in front, and the Expedition followed the police car away.

Atascadero Police Chief Dan Suttles said the officer was not attempting to assist the Ford Expedition.

“The officer in question was returning to court after lunch and was simply looking for parking,” Suttles said in an email to The Tribune. “In doing so, he drove down the alley and then back onto the street. His presence near the ICE agent was coincidental, as our officers frequently have business at the courthouse during the day.”

The San Luis Obispo Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office told The Tribune that ICE did not tell either agency that it was present in downtown San Luis Obispo on Wednesday. Both agencies denied assisting ICE’s operations.

Senate Bill 54 prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration operations. Both agencies cited compliance with this law.

The Tribune left the courthouse at about noon, but community organizers remained on the scene until about 2:30 p.m. The Ford Expedition eventually left San Luis Obispo without detaining anyone, and other organizers saw it enter the Santa Maria Jail after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Vasquez said.

“Yesterday was real life proof that change can be made, and we truly can stop ICE from being in our city,” he said. “It shows us that there is hope.”

He encouraged people to volunteer with the Rapid Response Network if they wish to help. People can sign up for a training online at 805undocufund.org/get-involved. Call the rapid response hotline at 805-870-8855 to report ICE sightings.

“Change is possible, resistance is needed, but resistance is only possible when the community comes together. If there was only one or two volunteers yesterday, we would not have been successful,” Vasquez said. “It is because we had the 20 volunteers there we were able to push out these federal agents.”

This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM.