Suspected Illegal Immigrant Sweep Sparks Controversy

POSTED: 4:05 pm PDT March 26, 2007
UPDATED: 6:31 pm PDT March 26, 2007

SAN DIEGO -- A late-night raid by immigration officials has sparked controversy, after human rights activists claim arrests were made without a warrant, NBC 7/39 reported.


The raids took place Sunday night and involved several homes in the 3900 block of Hemlock Street in Mountain View and a supermarket in the Memorial area.

NBC 7/39 spoke to neighbors in the area who said people wearing police vests came to their doors, claiming to be looking for two criminals. The neighbors said the officials used a photo of a man and a woman to talk their way inside the homes.

One resident said, "After they opened the doors to their house, they started asking for their documents. They went in the houses searching for other people."

Employees at the supermarket said something similar happened there. But in this case, customers who were walking out of the store were stopped.

Human rights activists said they are outraged. Christian Ramirez of American Friends Service Committee said, "We have kids who are without their parents, wives without their husbands and entire families torn apart."

Ramirez said a total of 10 homes were raided and seven people were taken into custody. Employees at the market said at least two people were taken away.

The San Diego Police Department confirmed that did not take part in the operation Sunday night.

Activists told NBC 7/39 they believe the raid was conducted by immigrations and customs agents without warrants.

"We know that U.S. citizens were questioned. We know U.S. citizens' homes were raided," Ramirez said.

NBC 7/39 tried to contact immigrations and customs enforcement, but have not received any response.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/11390325/detail.html