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Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity near the George Eastman Museum early Tuesday was met with vocal opposition from activists and community leaders as roofers targeted by officers remained in a standoff.
Officers first stationed near Westminster Road and East Avenue, arresting one person who was completing work on a roof. Two other workers remained on the roof as a crowd of activists, attorneys, clergy, and community members gathered until 11 a.m. to protest the unfolding event.
“There’s two guys on the roof right now that are day workers,” said bystander Patrick Tobin. “I showed up, there (were) other workers here, and they took one guy who had a permit, he’s been working here for 25 years, he’s got a baby on the way, (and) never had any legal issues whatsoever.”
“There are a lot of people here who care very deeply about what’s happening in our country, and people are just not going to tolerate this,” said Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, who was in the crowd. “It just so happened that people were able to respond quickly to get here and to make it known that this is not acceptable in our communities.”
ICE officers arrested Jacinto Mayancela Guallpa—an illegal immigrant from Ecuador, said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.
According to McLaughlin, “As ICE was making the arrest, two other illegal aliens fled up to a rooftop and refused to come down. These illegal aliens confirmed to law enforcement that they didn’t have legal status in the U.S. An attorney for the two illegal aliens arrived at the scene and agreed to bring them to ICE processing later in the day.”
Organizations like Metro Justice and the Graduate Labor Union at the University of Rochester had notified the public of ongoing activity, alongside members from Spiritus Christi Church and First Unitarian Church. More than 200 people showed up in unified opposition to the ICE raid. Speakers with bullhorns provided words of support to those on the roof in Spanish, while attorneys sought to assist them in any way they could.
“Within an hour, several hundred people, including lawmakers, clergy, and labor leaders, showed up to witness and protect our neighbors,” said Michi Wenderlich, Metro Justice campaign and policy coordinator, in a statement. “Rochester shows up to protect each other, and I’m proud of our community.”
With their vehicle tires slashed and a growing crowd surrounding officers and vehicles, ICE agents left the area without arresting those remaining on the roof.
“During the operation, violent rioters began to gather at the location, and they attempted to prevent law enforcement from exercising their sworn duties,” McLaughlin noted. “These dangerous rioters vandalized and slashed the tires of a border patrol vehicle. For their own safety, officers left the scene.”
“To round up hardworking people who’ve done absolutely nothing wrong,” said Barnhart. “The image of these two men just sitting on a roof, scared for their lives. It is heartbreaking.”
“The attorney never appeared at the ICE office with the two other illegal aliens as promised to law enforcement. These illegal aliens remain at large,” McLaughlin said.
Narm Nathan is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and a member of the Oasis Project’s inaugural cohort.
The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. See “Leave a Reply” below to discuss on this post. Comments of a general nature may be submitted to the Letters page by emailing [email protected].
I to served our country. And am a combat Vet. Any Veteran who does not hold to his sworn duty to protect our constitution. From enemies abroad or within our own country are traitorous in nature. And as far as the Democrats causing the September 6th assault on our capitol.Is conspiracy theory/ fox entertainment. Because what these lunatic wind bags profess as news. Is simply rhetoric in support of the convicted felon, pedophile. So step aside and let the people who posses critical thinking skills handle this.USMC retired.
Ice Agents=Pardoned Proub Boys=Trump. Let’s not forget The Jan 6th attack on the Capital. Where Capital police were savagely beaten. Resulting in eventually some deaths.Or the Epstein file, Or that Trump is a convicted felon. With the mental acuity of a spoiled child. Or Democratic politicians that were ruthlessly murdered by a deranged Trump supporter. The fake assassination attempts. The big steal. I could go on with many more well documented facts. However, it seems that Trump and his ass kissing followers. Simply dismiss the facts as lies. Jorge Orwell was right.
This incident is another example of the breakdown of law and order. The assault on Federal agents in this case and others should be met with arrests.
Did you call for that same response when Trump’s thugs attacked the US Capitol?
Len Sheldon:
Regarding the US Capitol “attack” which was allowed to happen. Realize this Len, a platoon of unarmed Marines could have stopped the “attack”. That “attack” was an accomplishment by the Dems who paved the way. Having served with the finest….don’t doubt me on that. And cut the drama with thugs and stormtroopers etc. etc. While your comments and wordsmithing sound intellectual, it’s mostly comedy. Don’t quit your day job however. You still need a roof over your head, clothing and food on the table. Maybe a debate would help you see things as they are, not how you wish them to be. SEMPER FI. (that means always faithful and I apply it everyday)
if they are here illegally they did something wrong. Next time your reporter should challenge activists statements.
GREAT WORK .. PROTESTORS!!! I’M WITH YOU
GET ICE OUT OF OUR CITY & COUNTRY .. ship them off with their DISGUSTING LEADER.. D T. Poop🤬🤬🤬
It’s interesting to note that any comment by the Left always consists of bashing, name calling and the sorts. Try a solution based reply. One explanation notation is good. While I am not in full agreement with this administration, I am reminded of the Afghanistan Withdrawal which cost the lives of 13 of our finest, dozens severely wounded, many more psychologically scarred for life, billions in equipment left behind and the trust factor of the US damaged world wide. That was the worst military disaster in the history of our nation.
Unfortunately being anywhere near a uniform and serving our nation escapes your intellect.
SEMPER FI.
Those who slashed ICE vehicle tires were not peaceful. Hope they got arrested. Protest all you want, but no violence, you won’t get my support.
I laud the community response and unity shown. However, I adamantly oppose any form of criminal activity, such as tire cutting. It’s a form of escalation that potentially could lead to tragedy. If those who participate in destruction are anarchists, like the ones who burned RPD cars during protests a few years ago, the organizers need to do a better job of policing the ranks. We need to use all the legal and peaceful tools available to remind the administration that the people do not condone these activities by ICE.
Every person that interfered should be arrested and charged with obstruction of a federal investigation. ICE agents are federal law officers.
They are federal agents who are also breaking the law, which makes them criminals, right? I love how all you law-and-order types accept the illegal behavior of people in positions of power. Kind of cowardly that.
We have legal and illegal immigration. Since you have trouble distinguishing the difference, I’ll just come over and help myself to your refrigerator. I know, that’s illegal. So you are in favor of a “SELECTED OR SELECTIVE LEGAL” system.
This is a solid display of unity. However, if we really are “one Rochester” – I can’t wait to see this kind of outpouring when Black folk’s rights are violated, especially and particularly when they are abused and killed by racist , rogue cops!!!
…And Howard the urban issues are all related to a K-12 education system that cannot teach kids the way they learn. A child born in the urban sector is not uneducable. They have innate skills and gifted. They need to be discovered via that K-12 journey. The system however is either unwilling, unable, or just plain incompetent. If you look at all the woes of the urban populous it has its roots and is, foundationally, the lack of education. Adam Urbanski needs to go and new leadership that gives a damn about our youth needs to emerge. A 12,000,000.00 computer system is now at a $45,000,000.00 price tag. That said, I will bet you that this pathetic system could graduate kids if we tripled their salary. When are we going to address this education issue? When?!
boy howdy, to see local activists doing more to protect immigrants than Lame Duck Schumer