ICE “typical immigration targeted enforcement activity” "over 18 only"
ICE agents visit Immokalee
by Albert Pefley
Friday, July 12th 2019
IMMOKALEE, Fla. (CBS12) — A nationwide deportation operation is expected to take place this weekend.
This will target illegal immigrants in 10 major cities across the country.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents spent the morning in Immokalee, looking to detain illegal immigrants.
The crackdown appeared to be low-key, with agents moving through town just before dawn.
The operation, which has sparked outrage in various parts of the U.S. and cheers in other parts, targets people who have gone through the court process—been ordered to deport—but remain in the country illegally.
An ICE spokesman in the Miami field office confirms they had agents in Immokalee for what he described as “typical immigration targeted enforcement activity.”
He says they don’t conduct raids, but are looking for specific individuals who are absconders from immigration law, someone who has a final removal order, or has overstayed their visa.
This enforcement action he says does not include children. They only arrest those who are over 18-years-old.
"People are scared right now," said Lilia Ramirez, an Immokalee resident.
Lilia Ramirez, a waitress at Mi Ranchito, a Mexican restaurant in Immokalee, says she knows people who may be targeted in this effort.
Lilia, 22, has lived in Immokalee for 12 years, she is married and has an 8-month-old daughter.
She knows about the ICE targeted deportation effort.
“I understand they are doing their job," she said.
But she thinks children could suffer if one or more of their parents gets picked up.
“Children are being separated from their parents and I just don’t think that’s right. No kid deserves to be away from their parents," Ramirez said.
Others here feel differently. One man who did not want to go on camera, says he’s lived in Immokalee for 60 years and says he’s s glad to see ICE coming here to arrest those in the country illegally.
He says they’re targeting the ones who’ve been running from the system for years, and they do need to be caught. An ICE spokesman said they did not make any arrests in Immokalee Friday. He would not discuss their enforcement plans or when they might return.
https://cbs12.com/news/local/ice-agents-visit-immokalee
