Immigrant rights groups across the Central Coast are speaking out in response to early-morning raids conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on May 13, when federal agents served search warrants at several locations connected to community defense organization VC Defensa.

Federal agents knocked open doors to search four locations, including the VC Defensa’s business spaces and the home of organizer Leo Martinez, one of the most vocal immigrant rights advocates in the region. In a press conference the next day, Martinez said federal agents pointed guns at both him and his mother during the raids. While nobody was arrested, Martinez said the search warrants served as an example of ICE and DHS “bullying” community defense volunteers.