Community leaders and family members are demanding urgent answers after a beloved South Los Angeles activist, Yuriana Juliana “Juli” Pelaez Calderon, was allegedly taken at gunpoint by unidentified men in an unmarked vehicle while on her way to work.
What We Know:
Calderon, a mother of three and a long-time resident of South LA, was detained on June 25. According to attorneys with the Immigrant Defenders Law Center (IDLC), two armed men in unmarked vehicles forced her into custody. In a brief phone call, Calderon informed her family she was not taken to an official detention center, but instead transported to the San Ysidro border, where she was pressured to sign voluntary self-deportation documents.
“But when Juli refused to sign, when she demanded to see a judge and speak with an attorney, she was punished,” her attorney said during a press conference. “She was placed back in a van with others asserting their rights and taken to a warehouse. No food, only water. No law enforcement officers. Men and women detained together. No due process.”
Calderon reportedly told her family she is being held in that warehouse until she agrees to sign the deportation paperwork.
Another IDLC lawyer stated she does not appear in the ICE detainee locator system, adding to fears about who is detaining her and under what authority.
“We don’t know if she’s in ICE or CBP custody, or being held illegally by vigilantes,” the attorney said. “But we do know this is not how the legal system in this country is supposed to work.”
Calderon, who has lived in the U.S. for over two decades, is an active member of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE).
What We Don’t Know:
- Her current location remains unknown.
- She has made two brief phone calls since her detention, but could not confirm where she is being held.
- Calderon reportedly told her family she suspects her captors are bounty hunters, not law enforcement.
- She also said “many others” are being held alongside her in the same facility.
What They’re Saying:
Community outrage is growing, with organizers and supporters decrying what they describe as an abduction by people with no identifiable agency ties.
“Juli told her family she’s in a warehouse, but she doesn’t know where. She believes the people who took her are bounty hunters. This cannot be allowed to continue,” said one organizer.
During a press conference on Monday, loved ones and colleagues called on the public and government officials to take action.
“Imagine being on the phone with your daughter, telling her you’re being followed. You go to a well-lit area, thinking it’s safe—only to be kidnapped,” said a friend who has known Juli for over 20 years.
In an emotional moment, a family member collapsed during the press conference, overwhelmed by the uncertainty and lack of answers.
“Too many families can’t say where their loved ones are. We don’t know if these are ICE agents, private contractors, or vigilantes. This has to stop,” a community leader said.
Ongoing Demands:
Advocates are calling for:
- Immediate confirmation of Calderon’s location
- Access to legal representation
- An investigation into the use of unmarked vehicles and non-uniformed personnel in immigration enforcement
This incident adds to growing concerns about unofficial enforcement tactics and lack of transparency amid ongoing immigration crackdowns.
“We’re demanding to know where Juli is. She has a right to legal counsel, a right to due process, and a right to be safe,” said the IDLC in a statement.
