ICE raids look like retaliation to protesters
Young demonstrators at rally that some think sparked the immigration raids in Shakopee and the Jackson Park neighborhood.
On Sunday, June 22, federal officers raided homes in Jackson Heights and Shakopee, arresting between 12-20 people. The raids occurred nine days after a rally held by residents and organizers from the area in response to planned Highway 41 expansion.
“They came here. They looking for some people, and they took them,” said Mauro Avango, a resident of Jackson Heights. “They took Felix.”
Felix Diaz, who was a speaker at the June 13 demonstration, was arrested with his wife.
“I only know he will be deported,” said another Jackson Heights resident, through an interpreter. “I think he’s in a deportation center. I know because he’s my neighbor.”
Krystal Klein, of All Parks Alliance for Change, wrote in a press release:
“The couple answered their door at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday. According to the accounts of family members who were present during the raid, the couple was handcuffed and escorted to a van in their pajamas. ICE officials did not allow them to get dressed or even put on shoes. Their seven year old daughter, a US Citizen, was sleeping in the next room.”
Klein received the information about the arrests from Diaz’s family members, who were afraid to be quoted directly.
Klein said that six people from Jackson Heights, and six people from Shakopee were arrested, but she said it’s possible that as many as twenty could have been taken. Klein, a community organizer, has been talking with people in the Jackson Heights community. “The public trust has been broken between the community and MnDOT,” Klein said. “The community perceives that this is a retaliation for the protest.”
Dennis Roof, of the East Chaska Citizens Organization, also was involved in the June 13 rally. Roof says that although he is very concerned about the citizens of Jackson Heights, he’s “not supportive of people who are here illegally.” Still, Roof says, “If MnDOT or Scott County made the call to [immigration officials], I think that was the lowest thing they could do.” Roof said he “wouldn’t be surprised if [local officials] had reached into the bag and pulled this out and used as a way for causing problems.”
Gail Montenegro, the public relations representative from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said she didn’t know anything about the raids, and that the U.S. Marshal might have conducted the searches. Justin Cline, from the U.S. Marshal’s office, indicated that there was a nationwide sweep called “Operation Falcon” at the end of June. Cline noted that there were a number of men named Felix Diaz arrested in last week’s national sweep, but he could not confirm whether any of them came from Shakopee.
Krystal Klein has no doubt that the raids were performed by ICE: “I went to some of the hearings, and glanced at the papers that had ‘ICE’ written on the top of them,” she said.
Sheila Regan is a theater artist based in Minneapolis. When not performing or writing, she serves as educational coordinator for Teatro del Pueblo.
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Comments
Thank you for this piece. I
Thank you for this piece. I would like to know more about “operation falcon.” What is going on in this country? I believe Americans need to really pay attention to immigration issues: immigrants from Latin America have been treated horribly for too many years. Attention must be paid.
Treated Horribly
Many bring it upon themselves to be treated horribly. Immigration through legal means is ok and legitimate. Many don’t go through the legal channels and then want to complain and get those rights associated with legal immigration. Sorry, there is not any room to paint all immigrants as legal thus not be subject to “horrible treatment”. Its also not fair to say that only Latin America immigrants are treated horribly. Irish, Africans, Russians, etc, all have had their fair share of being treated horribly, even those that came here legally.
The issue is here that some of these protesters are here illegally then get busted and wonder why?? These people put their face in public eye and therefore up to scrutination by ICE.
You cry foul, I cry fair.
Sorry BUT....
The Bill of Rights protect who?? CITIZENS not illegals. File your PAPERS...simple enough?!!!!
P.S. you’re website is a little bias…not in dual/triple languages, just ENGLISH speakers.
Response to Mr. Roof
Mr. Roof, why is it low if the ICE was notified? That doesn’t make sense, if you put your “face” out there and you’re not supposed to be here or are a criminal (not saying the Jackson Heights people are…think America’s Most Wanted captures) then you run the risk of discovery by authorities. Sorry, the bill of rights protect the citizens, not the people that fail to apply for citizenship being here in the US for at least 6 years (child is six in the one profile).
The state is doing their job.
Bottom line
If these people are in this country illegally, then they shouldn’t have opened themselves up by protesting. If they are LEGAL citizens, then ICE obviously overstepped their bounds, but if they’re illegal, I have no sympathy for them.
And to think that MnDOT or the county called immigration officials might be far-fetched too…not out of the question, but quite possible that it DIDN’T happen either. Anyone with an eye for this project, including immigration officials, could have seen the opportunity that was presented by the protesters holding a rally. So while you can’t rule them out, don’t be so quick to blame MnDOT or the county either.
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