The first protests were organized on Nov. 12 in response to the events. Irbin Hernandez, along with Stacy Serrano, planned the protests in Jemison. Chants of ‘Families belong together,’ and ‘Humans aren’t illegal’ filled downtown Jemison on both nights as hundreds of protestors lined the street holding homemade signs and waving American flags.

“It is a lot to take in, and you have a lot of families at stake here and fathers that get taken away, that is a horrible thing to experience,” Hernandez said. “Us being able to speak up for our people, we are going to do that. We are going to speak up and let it be known that this is not correct the way they are treating individuals just because of their status.”

Jemison Mayor Jonathan Varden issued a statement on Nov. 17 about the ICE operations. In the statement, Varden says the City of Jemison was contacted by ICE two weeks in advance to let them know there would be an operation between ICE and ALEA with multiple driver’s license checkpoints around Chilton County.

“We were asked if the City Hall auditorium would be available, if needed, to be used for processing before any individual arrested could be transported to a designated detainment facility,” the press release said. “We have always cooperated with and assisted with other local, state and federal agencies. As Mayor, I fully believe that all our laws should be enforced equally across the board, without prejudice, with grace and humility.”

As the Nov. 18 protests were being planned, a threat was made online towards protestors. An investigation is currently underway into the threats made on Facebook inside a Jemison community page where the comment “Hey just so you protestors know we got your tag numbers and we follow some of y’all home,” was made.

“Our main concern is the safety of all our citizens and we will continue to work hard to ensure that safety,” the press release from Varden said.

During the Nov. 18 protests, there were some instances of passing vehicles revving their engines as they drove past protestors in perhaps an attempt to intimidate those peacefully protesting. Jemison Police Department and Chilton County Sheriff’s Officer officers were parked close by to the protests going both directions on U.S. Highway 31. Every vehicle that passed by the protestors and revved their engines loudly or put people in danger with erratic behavior was promptly pulled over by officers — keeping everyone in the area safe.

The Nov. 18 protests started at 5 p.m. and lasted throughout the Jemison City Council meeting held at City Hall at 6:30 p.m. and past 7 p.m. The regularly scheduled meeting took place and operated as normal without disruption or comment about the protests happening just outside the front doors. Basic actions were taken during the meeting, and it wrapped up in under five minutes. However, prior to the meeting, some immigrant rights activists and some of those involved with the protest asked to speak to the Varden and the city council, and were allowed to.

“The protestors and the people who asked to come in and speak tonight were very professional,” Varden said. “We are very sympathetic with what they had to say and everything that we handle in the future we will take all their input into consideration.”

While not confirmed by law enforcement, information from the protestors suggest that those detained on Nov. 11 were taken to the Pickens County Jail, one of the two holding places for those detained by ICE in Alabama. The Pickens County Jail can be reached at 205-367-2000.

For more information regarding immigration questions in Central Alabama and regarding this case, call the U.S. ICE Field Office for Central Alabama in Montgomery at 334-260-6305.