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Vigil held in St. Paul after ICE detains roofing crew
ICE agents detained an entire roofing crew in St. Paul during an enforcement operation on Thursday morning, according to a statement from advocacy groups.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - ICE agents detained an entire roofing crew in St. Paul during an enforcement operation on Thursday morning, according to a statement from advocacy groups.
Roofing crew detained
What we know:
The Immigrant Defense Network and Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina, organizations that advocate for immigrants, said in a release on Thursday that a roofing crew was detained while on a job in St. Paul's North End Neighborhood.
According to the group, witnesses said the agents rolled up around 8:30 a.m. in unmarked vans and detained the entire crew while they were working.
What they're saying:
In a post Thursday morning, Minnesota House Rep. Athena Hollins, whose district covers part of the North End neighborhood, issued a statement on the detainment.
"These men weren't breaking the law, they weren't dangerous gang members or drug dealers," wrote Rep. Hollins. "They were working – contributing to our society and our neighborhoods and our economy."
Hollins added: "No one should have to go to work, afraid that they will be detained. No child should wonder if their parents will come home tonight. These raids are not about safety—they are about cruelty and control."
St. Paul ICE Office response
Why you should care:
Immigration officials responded to FOX 9 Thursday night after a request for more information about the incident. They say four people were arrested. Three are citizens of El Salvador, the other is a citizen of Honduras. Three of the people had prior criminal convictions.
"The ICE St. Paul Office conducted an enforcement action resulting in the arrest of four individuals. Three are citizens of El Salvador, and one is a citizen of Honduras. Three had final orders of removal, while one will be placed in immigration proceedings. Additionally, three of the individuals had prior criminal convictions. Further details are being finalized and will be released soon."
The report comes days after federal immigration officials held a news conference about uncovering evidence of immigration fraud in the Twin Cities during a multi-day operation. Officials said they found examples of sham marriages, faked death certificates along with visa overstays.
"At the end of the day, this is what the government should be doing," said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. "We have a responsibility to keep this system legitimate. And when you see what has been uncovered by these diligent officers over the past two weeks, less than a two-week period, that's only the tip of the iceberg to what we're actually dealing with when it comes to immigration fraud. That ultimately is, in my opinion, the same thing as a threat to our national security, a threat to public safety, and something that we've got to take seriously."
Mayor Melvin Carter: Arrests ‘have no place in our country’
What they're saying:
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter issued a statement via social media Tuesday night in response to the arrests.
"I am deeply concerned workers were arrested on a Saint Paul job site today by masked agents who refused to identify themselves," Carter said. "This secretive, fear-driven enforcement has become a hallmark of the president’s approach. It has no place in our country."
What's next:
The Immigrant Defense Network and Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina hosted a vigil for the detained workers at Marydale Park.