Fresno tow operator loses $700 per free pickup amid ICE arrests

Ramiro Basurto, a tow truck operator in Fresno, California, is absorbing a financial hit of up to $700 for every vehicle he retrieves free of charge from residents detained by federal immigration agents. The cost covers the time off work and diesel fuel, which currently averages $8.49 per gallon. Basurto began providing this service after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a new enforcement wave on Oct. 5.

The federal operation is scheduled to last 45 days and covers a large portion of the state. It comes just weeks before the midterm elections. More than 100 people have been arrested in Fresno County so far, including agricultural workers, gardeners, and construction laborers. Most of those detained by ICE during President Trump's second term have no prior criminal record. Undocumented residents make up 12% of Fresno County's population, totaling approximately 124,000 people.

Basurto, who founded Buena Vista Towing in 2019, said he tows up to four vehicles a day for detained families. He operates under the belief that community members should support one another. "I am one of them," Basurto said. "I am the son of immigrants. I come from the bottom. When you come from humble beginnings, you look around and know exactly what the situation is like."

Other residents in the Central Valley have also stepped in to fill gaps left by local government. Erika Emprendedora, a Fresno resident, provides free grocery deliveries to four families daily to reduce their exposure to immigration agents. She maintains a Facebook page with 12,000 followers to share updates on ICE activity. Gus Gutiérrez, a coach with 44,000 Facebook followers, has reached over 11 million people with posts linking to legal and food assistance organizations. Gutiérrez, who lived undocumented for 25 years, said the community has had to act because elected officials have been slow to respond.

In Kerman, about 15 miles west of Fresno, Alvarado organizes food drives for residents who fear leaving their homes. She prepared 500 meals last week consisting of chicken, rice, beans, and corn tortillas. Alvarado plans a larger distribution on Oct. 20. She noted that she fears being harassed by agents despite having legal status. "I think about the situations I myself lived through, and I wouldn't want to hear anyone say they don't have enough to feed their children," she said.

Mayor María Pacheco of Kerman recently negotiated with ICE agents to leave her city, a move that gained national attention. Local businesses, including a market in Madera, are offering free deliveries and keeping their entrances watched to deter agents. Basurto continues to wait for calls in a downtown Fresno parking lot, supported by friends who contribute to his fuel costs. He said he feels blessed to be able to help, mirroring the example set by his father, who owned a small store.