Political Fallout: The Arrest of Isidro Jimenez and Its Impact on Coachella City Councilwoman Yadira Perez

Police officer arresting a person in handcuffs

A California city councilwoman’s husband with a lengthy criminal record was arrested by federal agents in a Walmart parking lot, igniting controversy in Coachella, a sanctuary city, and forcing political fallout as she contemplates resignation if her husband is deported.

Key Takeaways

Isidro Jimenez, husband of Coachella City Councilwoman Yadira Perez, was arrested by FBI agents for immigration violations and has a history of illegal reentry after deportation.
Jimenez has multiple criminal convictions including possession of methamphetamine, DUI, and assault with a deadly weapon following his 1995 deportation and illegal reentry.
Perez resigned from her position as a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy after the incident and has stated she will resign from the city council if her husband is deported.
The arrest highlights tensions between local sanctuary city policies and federal immigration enforcement priorities targeting criminals with immigration violations.

History of Criminal Activity and Deportation

Isidro Jimenez, a Mexican national married to Coachella City Councilmember Yadira Perez, was detained by FBI agents as part of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation. According to federal documents, Jimenez has a significant criminal history following his initial deportation in 1995. Records show he illegally reentered the United States and subsequently accumulated convictions for multiple offenses including possession of methamphetamine, driving under the influence, and assault with a deadly weapon.

NEW: On Monday, a Coachella city councilwoman gave a sobbing interview to local media after her husband was arrested in a WalMart parking lot by the FBI for ICE. "My family was just separated!" she cried out as she recorded the arrest.

Here's what she left out:

Her husband is a… pic.twitter.com/yU0lAZVRQu

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 26, 2025

The arrest was part of an ICE initiative reviewing closed cases of previously deported individuals with criminal records. A criminal complaint filed against Jimenez stated: “(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.”

Political Implications in a Sanctuary City

The arrest has created political turbulence in Coachella, which maintains sanctuary city status and limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Mayor Steven Hernandez publicly acknowledged the emotional impact while noting the city’s limited authority to intervene in federal enforcement actions. “I think it’s horrible that in Coachella and parts across California and the nation, that families are being torn apart,” Hernandez stated after the incident.

“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,” said city spokesperson Risseth Lora in an official statement.

The case appears to align with broader national immigration enforcement priorities. Jimenez was released on bond pending a hearing, though federal prosecutors have sought reconsideration of this decision, highlighting the seriousness with which authorities view his case given his history of illegal reentry and criminal convictions.

FBI Arrests Coachella Council Member’s Husband in Immigration Crackdownhttps://t.co/u8IqUwQzd5

— NBC Palm Springs (@NBCPalmSprings) February 27, 2025

Councilwoman’s Response and Future

Perez has framed the arrest as politically motivated, recording the detention and sharing her distress publicly. She resigned from her position as a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy following her husband’s arrest and has not attended recent city council meetings. The councilwoman has emphatically stated she will resign from her elected position if her husband is deported, potentially causing further political disruption in Coachella’s governance.

“The separation of family is not right. It’s inhumane,” Perez stated, clearly distressed by the situation. “My family was just separated. They have taken my kids’ father. Those are the desperate cries of help.”

Despite her personal crisis, Perez remains defiant about her political future until a final determination is made on her husband’s case. “People are playing dirty, But I will keep fighting for my community until the end,” she declared, suggesting she perceives political motivations behind the enforcement action. Jimenez faces an April hearing that will determine whether he will be deported once again, with significant implications for both his family and the political landscape of Coachella.