ICE operations in the Valley raise questions
ICE, AKA, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, showed up at two construction sites last week in Cameron County and arrested approximately 25 construction workers for being in the U.S. illegally.
In Hidalgo County, several construction sources said this week that their subcontractors (electricity, plumbing, framing, etc.) are calling to say that they don’t have enough guys on the crew that day to do the planned work.
These would be some of your construction jobs in the private sector. At least those that aren’t city, state or federal, because at that level, all employees are vetted. Supposedly.
ICE agents also showed up at the Alamo Flea Market Sunday on Tower Rd. and took six alleged illegal immigrants (from Mexico) into custody. (Source: KRGV.com.)
The whole thing supposedly went down in the parking lot (a dispute between a customer and a business owner). Someone called the cops, hello, ICE, and people get taken into ICE custody. This, I got from a flea market vendor.
In a statement to the TV station, ICE said, “One of the individuals had previously been arrested by local law enforcement in August 2023 on charges of attempted capital murder. All individuals apprehended will be transferred to ICE custody pending removal proceedings.”
Homeland Security posted a tweet on X Sunday that read:
“ICE Rio Grande Valley conducted a targeted enforcement operation in Alamo, TX, arresting 6 individuals suspected of being unlawfully present in the U.S. One was previously arrested for attempted capital murder in 2023. All are in ICE custody pending removal.”
Still, said the same flea market vendor, as soon as someone mentions or texts “ICE” around the flea market, you can hear the sound of vendors shutting up shop. People are scared. Plus, the customers are staying away from the place.
A New Quota?
Apparently, under threat of job termination, ICE senior officials have been told that if the agency doesn’t start making 3,000 arrests per day, they’re going to be out of a job. (Source: nbcnews.com.)
According to an NBC story published June 4:
“In mid-May, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, frustrated over what he saw as numbers of arrests and deportations of unauthorized immigrants that were too low, berated and threatened to fire senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials if they did not begin detaining 3,000 migrants a day, according to two sources who spoke to attendees.”
Apparently, Miller also threatened to fire leaders of field offices posting the bottom 10 percent of arrest numbers monthly, according to the same source.
Which may explain why we’re now seeing more ICE activity at Valley business locations, construction sites, restaurants, pick a place.
In another story published by NBC, former ICE agents say it’s not possible to hit that number, 3,000 arrests per day, especially if it only focuses on the “worst of the worst,” as Border Czar Tom Homan has often described ICE activities – We’re taking sexual predators off the streets, etc., hard- core drug dealers, child traf fickers.
Which is why we’re probably now seeing ICE taking construction workers into custody. While they’re on the job. Either a competitor blew the whistle, or ICE is making random checks at job sites for workforce compliance.
If the 3,000-arrests-per-day story is valid, that would explain a lot.
The NBC story that first floated that number attributed it to two anonymous sources, so who knows.
It would, though, help explain recent ICE activities. If Trump spokesman Miller did threaten senior ICE staff with job termination if they didn’t ramp up the arrest numbers, then they’re going to do what they can to boost the number of arrests.
The Bait and Switch
For example, hundreds, if not thousands, of people taken into ICE custody have been given ankle bracelets to track their movement while their deportation is still pending.
It’s part of a program called ATD (Alternative to Detention), under which ICE releases detainees back into the community who have been deemed no threat to public safety. They’re also required to agree to periodic check-ins at ICE facilities.
These people largely include the approximate 12 million let into the country under the Biden Administration, real pen or not.
According to the June 4 NBC News story, numerous immigration attorneys across the country told the network last week that ICE sent out a mass text message to people under ATD, asking them to show up ahead of schedule for an ICE check-in, only to be arrested upon arrival.
ICE claimed that all those arrested had executable final orders of removal, while the immigration attorneys told NBC News that no final orders were in place.
Still, it gave these people no time to say goodbye to family? No chance to get their affairs in order?
Nope.
In response to those who may criticize its actions, ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee had this to say last week:
“Today’s arrests reflect ICE’s unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of our immigration system and protecting our nation’s workforce. Individuals who violate federal immigration and employment laws not only undermine fair labor standards but also pose potential security and safety risks. ICE will continue to work with our partners to identify and investigate those who disregard the law and exploit our country’s systems for personal or commercial gain.” (Source: FOX26.)