According to an attorney, ICE agents detained an immigrant outside their Ohio home and threatened them with deportation. The individual had reportedly been living in the US legally for years.
According to his attorney, Inna Simakovsky, the man’s daughter reached out to her after he was confronted and arrested near his home in Columbus. He was then taken to jail, as reported by WBNS-TV.
“His family tried to show immigration here’s his work permit. Here’s immigration paperwork,” Simakovsky told the outlet. “He was told that he has a week to get his affairs in order and then he would be deported to Mexico.”
The man had been legally in the US on a “U visa,” according to the attorney. This visa is granted to victims of specific crimes who can potentially assist law enforcement in criminal investigations.
After being held for several hours, the man was released from Geauga County Jail on Monday evening.
According to FOX 8, as of Monday, the Geauga County Safety Center was holding over 50 individuals who were detained by ICE. The center serves as a temporary holding facility for detainees until they have their court hearing.
Columbus City Council officials have expressed their opposition to the widespread deportations occurring throughout the country. They emphasize that the apprehension of being potentially detained is discouraging individuals from patronizing businesses and making positive contributions to the economy.
“I think that it is disruptive to communities, I think it’s disruptive to families, it’s disruptive to our local economy. It is not the way to figure out how we fix a broken system,” Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, a council member and daughter of Cuban immigrants, told Spectrum News.
Since President Donald Trump took office, over 3,500 undocumented individuals have been arrested throughout the country as part of his campaign promise to carry out “mass deportations.” This pledge has faced criticism from immigration rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers.