Feds accused of 'stalking' immigrants
April 7, 2011

Activists, state rep say agents tailing Hispanics in city

Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

Detroit — Community leaders and activists say federal immigration agents are stalking Hispanic immigrants on the city's southwest side as they go to church and take their children to school.

About 120 people stood in the pouring rain Wednesday outside the Hope of Detroit Academy on North Campbell near Michigan to voice concerns during a news conference that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are targeting their community and illegally searching homes.

State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat who represents southwest Detroit, said about six ICE agents "stalked" and grabbed undocumented immigrants off the streets after they dropped their children off at the school Thursday. Tlaib said the individuals do not have criminal records.

"Without warrants, they stalked parents from across southwest Detroit," Tlaib said.

Ryan Bates, Michigan director of the Alliance for Immigrants Rights and Reform Michigan, said agents sat outside the school last Thursday and followed parents once they left the building.

"Some parents were trapped inside the school because they were too terrified and frightened to leave because they thought they would get arrested," Bates said.

"This is a pattern of abusive enforcement by ICE."

He said one father was taken into custody after leaving to drop off his child. At the press conference, Rogelio Perez said his pregnant wife was deported to Mexico after a "warrantless" search of the couple's southwest side home last month.

Jose Luis, a father of four, said he was followed by agents as he dropped his children off at school. He said he was one of the parents too afraid to leave the school for fear he would be detained by the agents.

"I didn't even know I did anything wrong," said Luis, through an interpreter.

ICE Director of Public Affairs Brian Hale said his agency is investigating the accusations.

"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," added Hale in the statement. "It is not clear that this policy was appropriately followed in this matter."

Bates said his organization plans to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.

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