Local senior centers see fewer attendees amid ICE concerns
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) - Recent immigration enforcement activity across the Coachella Valley is beginning to impact local senior centers, where leaders say some older adults are now too afraid to leave their homes.
News Channel 3 has reported on multiple immigration enforcement sightings and operations across the valley in recent days. Now, senior center staff say those fears are translating into lower attendance and growing concern for vulnerable seniors who rely on these centers for food, social interaction, and relief from the desert heat.
“Across the board, since ICE has picked up activities, we’ve had suppressed attendance,” said Cathedral City CEO Geoff Corbin. “We’ve had a lot of fear.”
Corbin says the center serves a large Hispanic population, making the recent enforcement activity especially concerning for many families.
“Forty-five percent of our program and participation is Hispanic and in Spanish and we’re very proud of that,” Corbin said. “So we definitely feel the effects of that. When ICE is on the pickup, we feel the fear and the outcomes are real for us.”
The fear has forced the center to adjust operations, including delivering food directly to seniors who no longer feel safe visiting the food bank in person.
“That means we have to deliver our food, they can’t come and shop in our food bank,” Corbin added.
People Experience Manager Laura Gutierrez says many seniors are afraid they may not make it home if they go out in public.
“I can say, especially me because I’m Hispanic, it’s very sad seeing the situation because it’s affecting a lot the cases that they don’t want to come out anymore,” Gutierrez said. “They are afraid to come here and you never know if you’re going back home or you’re going to see your family again.”
Staff say the consequences go beyond missed social activities. For some seniors, the center also serves as a cooling space during dangerous desert heat.
“A lot of the seniors sadly cannot stay home because they’re not able to pay their bills,” Gutierrez said.
She added that staying isolated can also negatively affect seniors’ mental and physical health.
“It’s very important because we want them to stay social and take care of themselves and if they’re not able to do that and just stay home and watch TV all day, it’s not good for them,” she said.
In response, the center has partnered with immigrant advocacy organization TODEC to provide legal resources and support directly on-site.
“To be safe it’s okay, but that cannot stop their lives,” a TODEC representative said. “It’s one moment to show up everybody to act together.”
As concerns continue across the community, staff say they are working to reassure seniors that the center remains a safe space.
“We’ve really been trying our hardest to let people know that this is a safe space,” Corbin said. “ICE is not welcome here, they need warrants.”
TODEC representatives are available at the senior center during operating hours.
Stay with News Channel 3 with more.
