Friday, January 8, 2016

Possible raid in Tyler conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (KLTV-TX)

Possible raid in Tyler conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Posted: Jan 03, 2016 11:10 PM EST
Updated: Jan 04, 2016 12:05 AM EST
By Paul Rivera
TYLER, TX (KLTV) - We're learning new details about a potential raid conducted Sunday morning by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Workers at the “Panaderia Nuevo León” at 323 North Beckham, say they saw ICE agents arresting someone around 8 a.m. in the parking lot.

There are conflicting reports on how many people were arrested, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement would not comment on any arrests made.

Pictures from Facebook show several ICE agents in the parking lot outside of Panaderia Nuevo León.

"They basically were kind of walking outside asking people, I'm not sure if they were asking for papers, or if they were asking for someone, but we've understood that they were looking for someone," says Yesenia Garcia, who works at Panaderia Nuevo León.

She says another picture from Facebook shows someone being arrested.

"They stopped a person and they asked for fingerprints and then they took him in," says Garcia.

Garcia says it didn't take long, but those few minutes frightened many.

"We've had hundreds of calls throughout the morning wondering if this is true and if they were here to pick up people," says Garcia, adding that conflicting stories of what happened have also added to the fear.

"For some reason, things have said, people have said, hundreds of people have been picked up and the truth is, it was outside of our bakery and it was just one person," says Garcia.

Francisco Serrono, who works at Super Mercado Monterrey, heard about what happened, and believes these agents are looking for very specific people.

"I think they come looking for people that owe tickets, or something, arrest warrants, because here they've come one or two times and they haven't said anything, they just take the person they're looking for and that's it," says Serrono.

Serrono and Garcia don't want people to live in fear.

"One can't eat, or sleep, or do anything, nonetheless, thinking about what time they arrive, what time they leave, and all of that. It's best to not think anything and that's it. They came and they went," says Serrono.

"They're just here to do their job and then they're leaving, they're not really trying to cause some trouble even though it is troubling for some people," says Garcia.

Tyler Police and the Smith County Sheriff's Office say they were not aware of any incident that occurred today involving ICE Agents. The sheriff's office says they've assisted ICE in the past on fugitive arrests and housing inmates.

A statement from ICE today says they focus on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security.

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