ICE Reportedly Harasses Children Of Immigrant Finding Sanctuary At Ohio Church

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — After Leonor Garcia, 42, found sanctuary at Cleveland Heights' Forest Hills Presbyterian church, she likely felt there would be a respite in her struggle with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Her attorney says no such rest was found because ICE agents confronted Garcia's children at their home in Akron on Friday, just three days after Garcia claimed sanctuary.

Garcia has four children, all of whom are U.S. citizens. Two of her children, her 3-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter, were home when ICE agents came to the house and banged on the door.

"There was no purpose for the ICE agents to go to the home, as they are very well aware of Ms. Garcia’s current location at the church," said Garcia's attorney Elizabeth Ford in an emailed statement. "Not only have the ICE agents been advised of Ms. Garcia’s location at Forest Hill, but she also is wearing an ankle monitor with GPS. The children have nothing to do with this situation, and should be left alone."

Khaalid Walls, a spokesperson for ICE, said reports of misconduct by agents were false. "ICE officers visited the residence after Ms. Garcia failed to appear to a required reporting date. ICE officers did not make contact with anyone at the home," he told Patch. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Cleveland Heights newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

Walls did not respond when asked why ICE agents did not check in with Garcia at the church, where she has publicly been claiming sanctuary. Walls previously told Patch agents would not remove Garcia from the church unless there were demanding circumstances or approval was gained from higher ups.

Senior Pastor at Forest Hills Presbyterian John Lentz said his church's leadership was appalled by ICE's actions over the weekend. He added that recent events have been taking a toll on Garcia.

Garcia, who has called Akron home for 20 years, was originally scheduled to be deported on Thursday. On Aug. 1 2017, Garcia reported for a regular check-in with ICE agents, a visit she told fellow immigrants on June 17 she was scared to attend. She had reason to fear. During the meeting, ICE told her she would be deported Sept. 14 and then had an ankle monitor affixed to her.

"I want to stay over here for my family," Garcia said at a press conference last Tuesday. "I want to fight it because I love my family."

She found refuge at the Cleveland Heights church. Lentz, announced Garcia's sanctuary on Friday. He told Patch he was initially unsure if the declaration would halt ICE's deportation process.

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.

Photo caption: Leonor Garcia and her four children. Garcia is on the far left.
Photo from Ohio's Voice