Rep. Matsui Condemns ICE Detentions of Afghan Asylum Seekers in Sacramento, Demands Accountability
Representative Doris Matsui said her office was notified about the alleged actions by NorCal Resist.
U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-7th Calif.) on Tuesday condemned recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inside the John Moss federal building in downtown Sacramento. Ms. Matsui accused the agency of targeting Afghan asylum seekers and calling the operations "un-American and completely unacceptable."
In a video statement released on her official YouTube channelun-American, Matsui said her office received troubling reports from community partners, specifically NorCal Resist, that "multiple Afghan asylum applicants were detained by ICE inside the Moss building after being contacted and told to come in."
Matsui linked the local enforcement actions to national political rhetoric, stating that President Trump and Secretary Gnome had used the "tragic shooting of two National Guard members in Washington D.C. to target entire immigrant communities."
“I am not going to let this cruelty slide,” Matsui stated, emphasizing Sacramento’s large Afghan community. “If the Trump administration thinks Sacramento is going to be bullied, they picked the wrong community. Sacramento stands up, Sacramento stands together, and Sacramento protects each other.”
The Congresswoman announced her office is taking action by "demanding access to the detainees," "demanding transparency and accountability," and working to ensure people are "returned safely to their families."
Matsui said her office was notified about the alleged actions by NorCal Resist. See their Blue Sky post about the reported detention below.
The video (see below), titled "Doris Holds ICE's Cruel Operations in Sacramento Accountable," quickly garnered local attention but showed an unusual pattern of public engagement. As of Wednesday morning, the video had only 28 views and two likes, yet it had drawn five distinct comments, all of which opposed the Congresswoman’s position.
This level of polarized commenting activity on a video with minimal views suggests either a concerted, targeted engagement effort or a highly passionate, negative response from a small, dedicated audience.
The detentions at the John Moss building are part of a broader, months-long conflict between local Sacramento leaders, including Matsui, and federal immigration officials over the use of the downtown facility for prolonged detention. Local advocates have repeatedly alleged that conditions inside the temporary holding spaces violate federal standards, claims that ICE has previously denied.
Our statement on the targeting of Afghans by the Trump administration
— NorCal Resist (@norcalresist.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
[image or embed]
