A series of high profile enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has sparked intense debate and public protests across the Conejo Valley. During recent city council meetings in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Simi Valley, residents have packed the chambers to condemn what they describe as aggressive tactics that are tearing families apart. The outcry follows several incidents where individuals were reportedly taken into custody in broad daylight, often in front of family members or near sensitive community locations.
Thanksgiving Morning Arrest in Thousand Oaks
One of the most widely discussed incidents occurred on Thanksgiving morning on Warwick Avenue in Thousand Oaks. According to witnesses who spoke at the December 2 City Council meeting, masked federal agents apprehended a man while his neighbors were preparing for their holiday meals. Speakers described the scene as heartbreaking, noting that the man’s family was left in a state of panic with little information about his whereabouts.
Camarillo resident Joseph Dubinsky told the council that he witnessed the man’s family desperately knocking on the doors of the ICE field office in Camarillo, only to be met with silence. He alleged that the individual was eventually pressured into signing voluntary departure paperwork while in custody. Activist Laura Tribble presented a map at the meeting claiming that at least 33 people have been taken by ICE in the region between Westlake Village and Newbury Park since June 2025.
Aggressive Tactics Reported in Moorpark and Simi Valley
The tension is equally high in Moorpark, where residents described a pre Thanksgiving incident near the Moorpark Avenue library. Witnesses alleged that masked agents in unmarked vehicles aggressively surrounded a Hispanic man driving a small truck. After a tense exchange, the man, who was a U.S. citizen, was eventually released. A local woman named Lynn testified that she was threatened and intimidated by agents for simply witnessing and photographing the encounter near her children’s school.
In Simi Valley, community members voiced concerns over a September raid where agents reportedly crashed into a private residence. Activist Chris Chestnut cited data from advocacy groups suggesting that up to 97 percent of those detained in recent local raids had no prior criminal records. He and others are calling for new local ordinances that would require agents to identify themselves and for the city to invest in legal defense funds to protect immigrant families.
Local Government Response and Limitations
Despite the emotional pleas from residents, city officials have remained divided on how much power they actually have to intervene. In Moorpark, former councilmember Roseann Mikos expressed disappointment that the city has not taken more proactive steps like funding legal aid, which neighboring Oxnard recently did. However, Moorpark Councilmember Tom Means noted that while the council values public input, they are legally limited in their ability to interfere with federal law enforcement operations.
Both Simi Valley and Moorpark have created dedicated webpages on their city sites to provide residents with immigration resources and contact information. As the new year begins, advocacy groups are promising to continue their presence at council meetings, demanding that local leaders take a moral stand against the current wave of enforcement. For many in the community, the issue has moved beyond politics and become a fundamental question of neighborhood safety and human rights.