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Passionate protesters showed up at the Pocahontas Trail intersection across from Busch Gardens on Thursday to oppose a Williamsburg raid and detainment by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The July 29 incident involved a man who was stopped by ICE agents in vehicles that did not have law enforcement markings, said Raegan Collier, a member of nonprofit grassroots organization Virginia Organizing. Collier said one of its chapter members saw the incident while driving by, and after pulling over, asked the individuals if they were ICE agents.
“Only then did they really identify themselves with vests on, but overall, just mostly civilian clothing,” Collier said.
The man, a landscaper, husband and father of five children, has since been detained at a center in North Carolina, he said. The man’s family is being supported by a church during his ongoing court case.
“There is a community that is missing him,” Collier said. “People that care and people that would rather have their family member and their friend here with them.”
Cars and trucks honked for the more than 40 people protesting the incident. Denille Francis of York County said she is concerned about ICE, and wants to see the community organize and look out for each other.
“We don’t have answers about who these ICE agents are, what they’re doing with people,” Francis said. “We’re not sure what human rights violations are happening. So I think, it’s important for the community to send a message.”
Sarah Barnett of York County said she was also concerned about the incident and worried about the effect of ICE actions on immigrants’ lives.
“We need them. We need to welcome them,” Barnett said. “I am happy to have good legislation to control and manage immigration, but barring that, there are people living in this country who are just working hard and living their lives and are law-abiding …”
Charles Gates, Vice President of the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP, said he does not support getting rid of ICE, but notes they are “overstepping their boundaries.”
Carolina Diaz said both of her parents are immigrants from El Salvador, and as a first generation immigrant, she wanted to be a voice for her Salvadoran parents.
“Our people are here to work,” Diaz said. “And they’re here for a good reason. We’re not criminals.”
James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com
Originally Published:
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