Coachella Councilwoman Yadira Perez Faces Crisis Amid Husband’s FBI Arrest and Immigration Controversy

Person wearing FBI jacket with yellow lettering

California Councilwoman Yadira Perez faces potential resignation after her husband, a Mexican national with a criminal history, was arrested by FBI agents on immigration charges in a confrontation she claims was politically motivated.

Quick Takes

Coachella City Councilwoman Yadira Perez’s husband Isidro Jimenez was arrested on an immigration detainer despite living in a sanctuary city
Jimenez is a Mexican national with multiple criminal convictions who was previously deported in 1995 and illegally reentered the U.S.
Perez resigned from her position with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department following her husband’s arrest
The councilwoman has threatened to resign her position if her husband is deported
The arrest aligns with increased federal enforcement targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records

Criminal History Leads to Immigration Detention

Isidro Jimenez, husband of Coachella City Councilmember Yadira Perez, was arrested by FBI agents in a Walmart parking lot as part of an ICE operation targeting previously deported individuals. The arrest, which Perez recorded and shared publicly, was conducted under an immigration detainer after federal authorities discovered Jimenez’s criminal background. According to federal records, Jimenez was initially deported in 1995 but illegally reentered the United States and subsequently accumulated multiple criminal convictions, including possession of methamphetamine, driving under the influence, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Yadira Perez shared a video of the moment federal agents took her husband in a Walmart parking lot. https://t.co/i0olejz3mz

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) February 27, 2025

The situation has created both personal turmoil and professional consequences for Perez, who resigned from her position as a deputy with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department following her husband’s arrest. Lieutenant Deirdre Vickers confirmed the resignation, stating, “We are currently investigating the timeline and facts surrounding this incident.” The arrest has also created potential political instability, as Perez has publicly declared she will resign from her council position if her husband is deported, which would necessitate a special election or appointment to fill her seat.

Immigration Enforcement in a Sanctuary City

The arrest has highlighted tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Coachella, which has designated itself as a sanctuary city, limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Mayor Steven Hernandez acknowledged the difficult position the city faces, stating, “I think it’s horrible that in Coachella and parts across California and the nation, that families are being torn apart.” Despite the city’s sanctuary status, local officials have acknowledged they have limited power to prevent federal agencies from conducting enforcement operations within their jurisdiction.

“The City of Coachella has received no updates regarding the situation involving Councilmember Yadira Perez’s husband, or enforcement activity by federal law agents in our City,” said Risseth Lora, a spokesperson for the city.

The federal complaint against Jimenez details his extensive criminal background, noting that the ICE National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center “conducted a records check and discovered that [Jimenez] had multiple arrests and convictions after his last removal from the United States.” After his arrest, Jimenez was released on bond, though federal prosecutors have sought reconsideration of this decision, arguing that his criminal history and immigration violations make him a flight risk and potential threat to public safety.

California city councilwoman cries as FBI arrests husband at Walmart — he's an illegal alien with DUI on long rap sheet https://t.co/GlDxcuekZm

— The Black Conservative 🇺🇸 (@TheBlkConserv) February 27, 2025

Claims of Political Targeting

Perez has been vocal about her belief that her husband’s arrest was politically motivated, though she has not provided specific evidence to support this claim. In emotional statements following the arrest, Perez expressed her distress over the family separation. “The separation of a family is not right, it’s inhuman!” Perez stated in a video recording of the incident. “My family was just separated. They have taken my kids’ father. Those are the desperate cries of help.” She has also accused unnamed individuals of “playing dirty” but vowed to “keep fighting for my community until the end.”

“(The ICE National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center) conducted a records check and discovered that (Jimenez) had multiple arrests and convictions after his last removal from the United States” – criminal complaint

The arrest comes amid increased immigration enforcement actions nationwide. A recent New York Times/Ipsos poll indicates broad public support for deportation of immigrants with criminal records, with 88% of Americans agreeing with such measures. Following her husband’s detention, Perez did not attend a recent Coachella City Council meeting, though her official status on the council remains unchanged. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and local sanctuary policies designed to limit cooperation with such enforcement actions.