U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) SWAT officers gear up in this image on Wikipedia dated from 2004.

Uncertainty among the Central Valley farm community looms large as reports of immigration raids stoke anxiety among farmworkers, public officials and more.

As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids take place across the country — including recent reports on California farms — President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday morning that immigration efforts will continue to target immigrants with criminal records.

But he acknowledged concern from farmers, hotel and leisure businesses that “our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace.”

“This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming,” Trump wrote.

In a social media statement Thursday, Rep. David Valadao said ICE must prioritize removing criminals over “the hardworking people who contribute to our communities and economy.”

“Farmworkers are the backbone of the ag industry, and I’m happy to see President Trump understand the urgency of this issue,” Valadao said.

Delivering his report at Thursday’s meeting, Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias warned locals of the threat of continued ICE raids, specifically naming a local flea market as a target this weekend.

“We have learned that this weekend ICE is planning to engage in a massive immigration raid at the Cherry Auction in Fresno,” Arias said Thursday. “I would advise our immigrant community that they should stay away from the Cherry Auction this weekend, as it would put themselves and their families in the most vulnerable position to be picked up and taken out of country without due process as has been clearly documented in our state.”

Cherry Auction Owner Neil Burson said on Thursday he has heard nothing from official channels warning him of a raid. A reporter’s call was the first he had heard of the recent raid rumors.

“I talked to the DA and the sheriff and they said they’re not going to tell us anyway,” Burson said, adding that tipping off business owners and the community could potentially create a panic.

He was curious to know where Arias received his tip. A voicemail left for Arias was not returned Thursday, when the council was in its regular meeting.

Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen said that, despite an increase in rumors, he has not received any confirmed reports of raids by ICE or Border Patrol agents.

“We’ve had numerous [sightings] since January, since the border patrol activity down in Kern County, but as of this week, it did pop up after the potential enforcement activities took place down in Ventura County,” Jacobsen said. “As far as the actual enforcement actions taking place in the Valley since January from either the Border Patrol or ICE, I’m not aware of any that’s affected my farm region.”

A video went viral Thursday of farmworkers running through a foggy Oxnard farm field, being chased by ICE agents in trucks.

Jacobsen added that he encouraged farmers and ranchers to educate themselves on their rights, adding that they are allowed to deny access to a worksite or farm if no warrant is available.

He said he has not heard direct reports of crews avoiding work for fear of ICE raids.

“At this time I have not had any reports of individuals not showing up,” he said. “That’s not to say it’s not happening widespread — I’m sure there are individual instances of it happening — but as of right now this is our peak season and there is concern by many of these employees.”

Jacobsen urged farmers, ranchers and farm laborers to use caution when seeking out reliable information on social media, urging users to take what they see with a grain of salt.

In a Wednesday newsletter sent by the Fresno County Farm Bureau, Fresno-based employers’ law firm Barsamian & Moody shared resources for employers addressing ICE presence and tips on how to handle ICE or Border Patrol presence at fields or facilities.