Political Fallout from Coachella Councilwoman Yadira Perez’s Husband’s FBI Arrest Amid Immigration Controversy

A California councilwoman’s political career hangs in the balance after her husband, a Mexican national with multiple criminal convictions and prior deportations, was arrested by FBI agents in a targeted ICE operation.

Key Takeaways

Coachella City Councilwoman Yadira Perez’s husband Isidro Jimenez was arrested by FBI agents working with ICE in a Walmart parking lot.
Jimenez, a Mexican national, has a criminal history including convictions for meth possession, DUI, and assault with a deadly weapon.
He was previously deported in 1995 but illegally re-entered the US and continued committing crimes.
Perez has pledged to resign from the city council if her husband is deported, calling the arrest politically motivated.
The case highlights tensions in Coachella, which is a sanctuary city limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Criminal History and Arrest Details

Federal authorities arrested Isidro Jimenez as part of an ICE initiative investigating closed cases of previously deported illegal immigrants with criminal histories. According to court documents, Jimenez had been deported in 1995 but illegally reentered the United States, accumulating multiple criminal convictions. FBI agents took him into custody in a Coachella Walmart parking lot while his wife, Councilwoman Yadira Perez, recorded the incident.

California city councilwoman is claiming that she is being politically targeted after her husband was detained by FBI agents at a Walmart parking lot on an immigration detainer.
Yadira Perez is on the city council for Coachella, but she says that she will resign from her office…

— Mike Netter (@nettermike) February 27, 2025

A criminal complaint filed against Jimenez details his extensive run-ins with the law. “(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,” states the official document. These convictions include possession of methamphetamine, driving under the influence, and assault with a deadly weapon, painting a troubling picture of repeated criminal activity following his illegal reentry.

Political Fallout in Sanctuary City

The arrest has created significant political complications in Coachella, a designated sanctuary city that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Perez, who also worked as a deputy with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, resigned from that position following her husband’s arrest. She has not attended recent city council meetings, though her status as councilwoman remains unchanged for now.

“I think it’s horrible that in Coachella and parts across California and the nation, that families are being torn apart,” said Mayor Steven Hernandez.

Despite the city’s pro-immigrant stance, Mayor Hernandez acknowledged that municipal authorities have limited power to prevent federal enforcement actions. The city government has remained mostly quiet about the case, with spokesperson Risseth Lora stating: “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.”

Isidro Jimenez, an illegal alien convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, is arrested in joint FBI .@EROLosAngeles targeted enforcement action. One less criminal threatening the people of Coachella, California. https://t.co/gse2FEJueF pic.twitter.com/bqQWa9mxvX

— ERO Los Angeles (@EROLosAngeles) February 26, 2025

Councilwoman’s Response and Accusations

Perez has been vocal about what she describes as the injustice of her husband’s arrest, recording the detention and sharing her distress. She claims the arrest was politically motivated and has pledged to resign from her council position if her husband is deported. “The separation of a family is not right, it’s inhuman!” Perez declared in comments that have drawn both sympathy and criticism.

“People are playing dirty, But I will keep fighting for my community until the end,” said Yadira Perez.

Despite her protests, federal authorities maintain the arrest was part of standard enforcement operations targeting illegal immigrants with criminal histories. Jimenez has been released on bond, though federal prosecutors sought reconsideration of this decision. He now faces an upcoming hearing that could determine whether he will be deported once again, potentially ending his wife’s political career should she follow through on her pledge to resign.

National Context of Immigration Enforcement

This case unfolds against the backdrop of intensified immigration enforcement nationwide. A recent New York Times/Ipsos poll indicates that while Americans remain divided on many aspects of immigration policy, an overwhelming majority – 88% – support deporting immigrants with criminal records. The arrest aligns with the current administration’s publicly stated focus on removing illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.

“President Trump and this Administration are saving lives every day because of the actions we are taking to secure the border and deport illegal alien criminals. Hundreds of thousands of criminals were let into this country illegally. We are sending them home, and they will never be allowed to return,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

As Jimenez prepares for his upcoming hearing, the case exemplifies the intersection of immigration policy, law enforcement, and local politics. For Coachella residents, it represents a tangible example of federal immigration enforcement reaching into their community despite its sanctuary status, while for national observers, it highlights the complex human dimensions of immigration policy implementation.