After a false story of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid was disseminated by a Fresno city council member and went viral online, a popular outdoor flea market in California was left empty, destroying the weekend for numerous exhibitors who depend on the market for their revenue.
At a Thursday council meeting, Fresno Councilmember Miguel Arias issued a warning about an upcoming ICE raid at the Cherry Avenue Auction, which attracts thousands of residents every weekend.
“We have learned that this weekend, ICE is planning to engage in a massive immigration raid at the Cherry Auction in Fresno. So, I would advise our immigrant community to stay away from the Cherry Auction this weekend, as they could be putting themselves and their families at risk of being picked up,” Arias stated.
Many people in Fresno and Easton, where the market is held, were placed on high alert by the warning alone.
On TikTok, many people heard Arias’ cautions reiterated, and over the weekend, a guy held a sign that read, “La migra está en el remate,” which translates to “immigration is at the auction” in English, outside the market.
Nevertheless, the Cherry Avenue Auction maintained that it had “not been notified of any such action” and had “no knowledge of any planned ICE raid.”
“We are also aware of recent public comments by Councilmember Miguel Arias, claiming to have knowledge of an ICE raid at our location. Since Cherry Avenue Auction is located within Fresno County jurisdiction — not the city of Fresno — we find it puzzling and offensive that a city councilmember would claim to possess such information,” the auction stated.
Many sellers were dissatisfied with the low attendance at the typically crowded swap meet and found it difficult to imagine how they would make up the lost revenue as the fair came to a conclusion.
“I don’t see the way I’m going to make any money out here today. This is my main source of income and today is one of the most important days of the week for me, so it’s really affecting me,” said Robert Brambila, who has been selling outdoor work gear at the market for thirty years.
Other sellers agreed with Brambila, but they had trouble comprehending Arias’ reasoning.
Arias led people to lose a lot of money today if he only propagated a story. Devon Solis, a plant and apparel vendor with her family, said, “He scared a lot of Mexicans away.”
Arias guessed that the reason the ICE raid didn’t happen during the market’s washout weekend was because the immigrant community was “exercising precaution” after his warnings.
“Please continue sharing ICE activity taking place in your area, as it has become the best way to keep each other safe during President Trump’s cruel ICE raids,” Arias stated on Facebook.
