ICE raid in St. Paul: Donations for detained father surpass $25K goal

St. Paul ICE raid community press conference [RAW]

St. Paul leaders and community members gathered on Wednesday to hold a vigil and press conference on the recent ICE raid at a business.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The family of a man who was detained by federal immigration authorities after a raid at a factory in St. Paul is asking for help in reuniting him with his family. 

READ MORE: ICE raid in St. Paul: What we know so far

Family seeks support after St. Paul ICE raid

What they're saying:

ICE agents detained Alarcón Avila during a raid at Bro-Tex in St. Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 18, according to a GoFundMe shared by his family.

That GoFundMe set a goal of $25,000 to help families cover legal fees and the sudden loss of their main provider. That goal has been surpassed by the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 20.

His family says he has no criminal record and has been actively involved in the community, including working at the Minnesota State Fair as a cook for Turkey to Go for over a decade. 

Avila's daughter, Karla Alarcon Hernandez, shared that her father has been committed to his education, taking GED classes, and participating in the West Side Community Organization. 

Family members are meeting with lawyers to navigate the legal system, which they describe as cold and overwhelming. 

Photo provided via GoFundMe shows Carlos Alberto Alarcón Avila with his dad. (Supplied)

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Why you should care:

Avila's detention has left his family struggling emotionally and financially, the GoFundMe states. His 9-year-old daughter is feeling the pain of his absence and does not understand why this happened to her father. 

The family is raising funds via GoFundMe to cover legal costs and support their efforts to bring Alarcón Avila back home. 

ICE raid in St. Paul

Statement from DHS:

The Department of Homeland Security released the following statement on the raid:

"On November 18 in St. Paul, ICE HSI and law enforcement partners executed a federal search warrant. ICE arrested 14 illegal aliens on immigration violations, including an individual with past domestic abuse charges and an illegal alien who committed a felony by illegally re-entering the U.S.

"Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to protect public safety, national security, and economic stability while rescuing individuals who may be victims of labor trafficking or exploitation. These operations target illegal employment networks that undermine American workers, destabilize labor markets, and threaten American communities. At a recent worksite operation at a marijuana facility in California, law enforcement rescued 14 children from potential forced labor, exploitation, and trafficking. Authorities also detained multiple criminal illegal aliens including a pedophile.

"Additionally, the employment of illegal aliens also incentivizes dangerous and illegal practices, including social security fraud. As we saw during a recent worksite operation in Nebraska, many illegal aliens use stolen social security numbers and identities to unlawfully obtain wages, health benefits and employment authorization. Behind every stolen social security number uncovered in these operations is a real American—mothers, fathers, students, and disabled workers—now facing devastating financial, emotional, and legal fallout."

The backstory:

ICE and other federal agencies conducted a search warrant at Bro Tex in St. Paul on Nov. 18 as part of a criminal investigation. In a statement to FOX 9, the agency said: 

"[Tuesday] in St. Paul, ICE HSI and law enforcement partners conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity and served a search warrant in furtherance of a federal criminal investigation. There is no threat to public safety, and the investigation remains ongoing at this time."

Protesters were present when immigration agents arrived at the business, having been tipped off about the raid. Demonstrators clashed with agents, who used chemical spray to disperse the crowd.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter was on the scene and reported that federal agents used tear gas on some protesters, resulting in injuries. 

"I saw a number of people flushing out their eyes because a number of them had been tear-gassed by the federal folks," said Carter.

In a statement on Tuesday, Carter said, "Though we don't have many details right now, I share the concern and fear this raises for our workers, families and entire community. Remember you have rights." 

The City of St. Paul has immigration resources available on its website.

What we don't know:

The timeline for Alarcón Avila's legal proceedings and potential return remains uncertain.