TRINITY COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – A Salvadorian man wanted by federal immigration is now in custody after being pulled over for a traffic violation when deputies discovered the Office of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) was looking for him.
Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace spoke about the encounter and how ICE got involved.
“He gave us an ID from El Salvador and when we ran him into the system we talked to ICE, and they said that for whatever reason, they knew him and they wanted him,” Wallace said.
Belinda Arroyo, a board-certified immigrant lawyer, said that those who may be impacted by ICE should not live in fear and should continue with their regular affected.
“They should send their kids to school, they should not live their life in fear because there are a lot of options for them,” Arroyo said.
Sheriff Wallace reiterated that law enforcement is not going around looking to detain people for ICE.
“If we come across you doing our normal duties of the law and find out that you’re wanted by ICE, then that’s going to get you picked up,” Wallace said.
According to the law, officers has the authority to hold a person for up to 48 hours by immigration agents. Border Czar Tom Homan said their priority is to deport people who have prior removal orders, have been caught by immigration before or those who have committed crimes while in the country.
“Last count, there were like 700,000 illegal aliens in this country with a criminal conviction, and that’s our number one target, along with security threats,” Homan said.
Arroyo spoke about how they have not seen mass and random raids so far, mostly targeted deportations.
“ If you’ve been here for at least ten years, you have a lot more protection than somebody who doesn’t, but you do need to know that, too, you need to assert those rights,” Arroyo said.
Arroyo advised East Texas leaders need to be prepared to help those who have been living in our community for years and are going through this difficult time.
