Controversy surrounding ICE raid on immigrant in school swells
As earlier reported by Michigan Messenger, activists in Detroit say Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surrounded a school in order to detain an undocumented resident. In a follow up on the press conference held by the Alliance for Immigrants Rights and Reforms, Khaalid Walls, spokesperson for ICE in Michigan, first issued the following statement: Jose Maldonado Placensia, a fugitive alien, was arrested March 31st and is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Jul 31, 202046.5K Shares2.3M Views
As earlier reportedby Michigan Messenger, activists in Detroit say Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surrounded a school in order to detain an undocumented resident.
In a follow up on the press conference held by the Alliance for Immigrants Rights and Reforms, Khaalid Walls, spokesperson for ICE in Michigan, first issued the following statement:
“„Jose Maldonado Placensia, a fugitive alien, was arrested March 31st and is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. During this targeted enforcement action, only one arrest was made. No one was arrested, stopped or detained on or near school grounds.
But less than four hours later, Walls e-mailed the following statement, attributed to ICE Director of Public Affairs Brian Hale:
“„ICE is concerned by reports about the manner in which this operation was conducted, and is conducting an internal review of the facts surrounding it.
“„While a preliminary analysis suggests that certain requirements were followed, elements of the operation appear to have been inconsistent with policy and our standards and priorities.
“„ICE officers are required to follow a policy that prohibits operations near schools unless approved by headquarters or otherwise based on exigent circumstances. It is not clear that this policy was appropriately followed in this matter.
“„In addition, one of the targets may not have been within the agency’s stated enforcement priorities.
“„If internal review results in a finding that procedures were violated, appropriate steps will be taken. ICE will work closely with the local community to address any concerns arising from this matter.
The change in statements was greeted with some praised by Ryan Bates, director of the Alliance for Immigrant Rights and Reforms:
“„While we are encouraged that ICE will be reviewing the incident at Hope Academy, we stand by our demands that the officers and agents responsible be identified and disciplined. ICE must be held accountable for violating their own policies and the simple human decency.
“„Though ICE has begun to address the events at Hope Academy, they have yet to address the warrant-less, illegal search of Rogelio and Maria Perez’s home.
“„This illegal search, conducted after Mr. Perez denied ICE permission to enter, resulted in the detention of his wife, who is six months pregnant.
“„While in immigration detention, she was denied proper medical attention and access to medication.
“„There is a pattern of abuse by Detroit ICE, and we stand by our demands for justice and accountability.
Meanwhile, undocumented youth who were arrested Tuesdayduring a protest in Atlanta, were supported by activists in a candlelight vigil in Detroit Wednesday night. The youth are being held in jail in Atlanta on $1,800 bonds, says One Michigan spokesperson Samantha Nawrocki.
The youth were protesting state laws which prohibit undocumented residents from attending college or university. Georgia was selected because it recently passed such a law, which is expected to go into effect in the fall.
Dexter Cooke
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