ROCHESTER, Minn.- A recent ICE arrest in Rochester on Sunday, Dec. 7, is one of 4 that the Southeastern Minnesota Interfaith Immigrant Legal Defense(SMIILD) says it has been keeping an eye on over the past month.
In a viral TikTok, a man was seemingly pulled out of his car by ICE agents on 14th Street Southeast.
The Rochester Police Department confirmed the arrest took place on Sunday and ICE has told KIMT it can’t identify the person arrested without being given a name and date of birth.
Phil Wheeler, president of SMIILD says that it has become a popular tactic of ICE to arrest immigrants out of their cars or when they are showing up for official government appointments either with immigration officials, local government or law enforcement.
Wheeler says the tactic is used because it does not require a judicial warrant.
He says immigrant advocates have been critical of the tactic because it disincentivizes people in immigrant communities from leaving the house or cooperating with local government.
“Why should they go? Why should they put themselves at risk of deportation under those circumstances, put their families at risk of economic disadvantage?” Wheeler said.
Wheeler says SMIILD often monitors ICE arrests and is notified of them when someone from southeast Minnesota is in one of Minnesota’s detention facilities so that it can help out if it they qualify for aid.
The nonprofit provides free legal council for immigrants who have a chance to avoid deportation so long as they make two times below the poverty and don’t already have representation.