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Another fake ICE scare stokes fear in Paso Robles

July 21, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

The California Mid-State Fair is in full swing, though the number of Hispanics attending a concert in Spanish was dismal after another fake ICE scare in Paso Robles stoked fear and panic within the city’s immigrant communities.

On Friday, the misinformation campaign started after someone spotted several large white vans, the type ICE used in the raids on cannabis farms in Carpinteria and Camarillo, with U.S. government license plates at the Courtyard Marriott in Paso Robles. A local group, 805 UndocuFund, posted a warning on social media that ICE agents were at the hotel.

Someone also posted a handmade sign at the Courtyard Marriott’s entrance, “ICE is staying at this hotel.” Angry callers contacted the hotel while people drove through the parking lot honking their horns.

Tom Fulks, the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party chair, posted a warning on his Facebook page: “Apparently the bounty hunters have been in Paso for a few days, just in time to body snatch from the Mid-State Fair.”

CalCoastNews investigated the warnings and found that the U.S. Government license plates on the vans and several other vehicles parked in the hotel parking lot also included “Navy” stickers. Men leaving the vehicles explained they were members of the Navy in the area for training.

Hotel staff said military service men and women regularly stay at the hotel while in the area. The Navy transports the trainees in the white and silver vans to local sites.

A headline show at the Mid-State Fair on Sunday featured an electric lineup of regional Mexican favorites: El Mexicano, Arkangel R-15, and Ezequiel Peña Jr. y Su Vallarta. In prior years, about 5,000 tickets are generally pre-sold for the annual Spanish language concert. However, amid the online misinformation campaign, the fair pre-sold approximately 900 tickets for this year’s event.

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Funny how the democrats love to bash Trump for taking their stolen riches and giving the people who pay taxes a break. I live in Paso Robles and have for over 40 years. There have been no ICE raids and we live near an area where there are many Hispanic families. None have been deported! Quit telling false stories and if there are businesses who are aware that their employees are not legally in this country, shame on you for abusing them! All in the name of money! It’s sickening what people do to others just for riches, only to blame the president! That goes for the so called “representatives “ we have voted for! All they care about is their riches.


20

Ironic that 805 Undocufund still beats CCN to the punch every time in reporting ICE sightings, yet they still want to be considered a “reliable news source.”


Acts for the fair are booked months, even years in advance. Josi Cuen and Jorge Medina were scheduled to perform and dropped out three weeks prior to the fair. Selling 900 tickets should be considered a miracle.


And why wouldn’t Latinos be scared of the hate and rhetoric headed their way. If they choose to stay home and not spend money on the economy – that’s their right. Not that you people think they have any rights to begin with, but that’s the story for another time…


It took me three minutes to figure out this information. Try harder, Velie.


-74

It is hateful that I’ve is targeting violent felons for removal?


3

Give Fulks a break. ICE is deporting his voting base. Illegals. He’s big about this.


40

Make that: He’s big mad about this.


3

Maybe the fair stops booking acts who are subject to Fulk’s online tactics. We’ll replace hispanics acts with country or metal.


19

Apologize Tom… like a man…


28

Once again, Fulks spews his nastiness. This dude has been a sad and pathetic blight on our community for decades. And that’s why the Democrats are tanking! Good riddance.


99

You must be white. Because only an asshole would say this. I am of Latin heritage, and I have in Paso Robles been here for 20 years and only when the current piece of shit Trump became president did I on not just one occasion, but numerous ones been yelled at from there Red Neck wanna be cowboy truck tell me to go back to Mexico you wetback. I served in the Army as a Airborne Air Assault Ranger. I look forward to the day one of them dumbass racist punks say it to my face!! I look forward to that day. FDT!!!!


-61

Airborne air assault ranger lmaooo, sounds like you were none of these so only a matter of time until you’re able to return home


16

“Latin heritage”….is white. “Latin” originated in ancient Italy, and spread throughout Europe by the Romans. Yes. All white guys and gals.


Oh, we also don’t believe your Army tale, because NOBODY who actually served in the Battalions, talks like that.


13

What does that say about the guy who made the very racist comment stated in your first two sentences??? No one cares about your heritage or that you are a new resident to Paso Robles. Your claim of numerous occasions where you were the target of racist taunts isn’t particularly credible. It doesn’t sound like the North County I know and I don’t recall reading news reports of such egregious atypical behavior. What really stands out about your post is your extreme disrespect to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and to the USA at large. The president won the election by a majority of the electorate, majority of the Electoral College and majority of the 3240+ counties in America. No matter how much you publicly excoriate him, he is our (America’s) President. Despite their claim that the rumor was intended to have an admonitory purpose, Democrat scaremongering about ICE activity in North County was in reality misinformation that was unnecessarily inflammatory and harassing to a specific demographic. Mean and harmful stunts are S.O.P. for the Left.


16

Ignorant people, doing ignorant things.


53

Cute meme, Patty.


0

Tommy never misses an opportunity to spout misinformation and fear mongering.


80

Yeah, no change that the dismal attendance of certain concerts is just because the fair has chosen acts that have a very limited appeal.


45