Fresno Towing Operator Waives $700 Fee for ICE-Detained Drivers

Ramiro Basurto loses up to $700 in fuel and time every time he tows an abandoned vehicle left behind by a driver detained by federal immigration agents. Despite the financial hit, the owner of Buena Vista Towing in Fresno, California, has begun offering free tow services to those affected. The initiative comes as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launches a 45-day operation across much of the Central Valley. Basurto, who founded his company in 2019, said he tows up to four vehicles daily at no cost to the owners. “I do it because I am one of them,” he said. “My father had a small store and would give things away for free or at a low price if people could not afford them.”

The federal crackdown began on Oct. 5, weeks before the midterm elections. More than 100 people, including farm workers and construction laborers, have been detained in the operation so far. Data indicates that most of those arrested under the current administration have no criminal record. Undocumented residents make up 12% of Fresno County’s population, roughly 124,000 people. In response, local residents have stepped in to fill gaps in support left by government agencies. Alvarado, a Kerman resident who sells tamales, organized a group to prepare 500 meals of chicken, rice, beans, and tortillas for neighbors who are afraid to leave their homes. She plans a larger distribution on Oct. 20.

Gus Gutiérrez, a Fresno coach with 44,000 Facebook followers, is using his social media platform to share verified ICE activity reports. His posts, which link to food and legal aid organizations, have reached more than 11 million people. Gutiérrez, who lived without legal status for 25 years, said the community is acting because elected officials have been slow to respond. “It was an obvious decision; I didn’t have to think about it twice,” he said. He drives to areas ranging from Visalia to Stockton to help families. Erika, who runs a small errand service, does grocery shopping for four families a day so they can avoid encounters with agents. She also alerts her 12,000 followers to the locations of ICE vehicles.

Basurto recently bought 40 dozen eggs at a Fresno Costco to donate to the community. One of his sons had to return to another job due to lower business activity, but Basurto continues to give back. He cites his own history as a farm worker as a reason for his empathy toward those detained. Alvarado, who raised $10,000 in 2024 to support the families of seven farm workers killed in a car accident, said she relies on volunteers to prepare food. “I have a big God in my business,” Alvarado said. Kerman Mayor María Pacheco also gained national attention after successfully asking ICE agents to leave her city. Local groups, including the United Farm Workers Foundation and CIVIIC, are providing legal assistance and food. Basurto waits for his next job in a fast-food parking lot in downtown Fresno, noting that he feels blessed to be able to help.

The collaborative effort spans multiple towns in the valley. A small market owner in Madera is providing free grocery delivery and organizing food distributions, advising customers to send family members with legal status to pick up items. Another resident near Sanger is distributing fresh vegetables from her farm. The local response highlights a shift toward self-organized aid in the face of heightened federal enforcement.