ICE Detained More Non-Felon Immigrants In Austin Region Than Anywhere Else In Nation: Report

AUSTIN, TX — The sweep of undocumented immigrants in Austin that began the week of Feb. 6 has resulted in the highest detentions of people with no previous criminal convictions than any other part of the country, according to a published report.

In an exclusive joint report by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV, documents compiled by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency presented last week to U.S. congressional officials showed that among the 51 people arrested in the aftermath of the raids, more people in Austin also were swept up after being found guilty of drunk driving than any other offense.

The findings contradict ICE officials prior insistence that the sweep, dubbed "Operation Cross Check" was to focus on high-level offenders. The documents reveal that of the 51 detained by ICE agents, 23 were previously identified as having criminal convictions. The other 28 were deemed "non-criminals" by ICE, a designation given for those without previous criminal convictions but merely suspected of having illegally entered the country.

The upshot: In the Austin region (which also includes San Antonio, Del Rio, Laredo and Waco), 55 percent of those ensnared in the sweeps were "non-criminal" immigrants compared to 34 percent in sweeps conducted in Atlanta, 30 percent in Chicago, 6 percent in Los Angeles and 5 percent in New York, according to the Statesman/KVUE report.

It isn't clear why the Austin region had more non-criminal arrests, but federal officials theorized it was the result of "collateral apprehensions" of people who happened to be in the company of a wanted individual at the time of a detention. That corresponds with a previous ICE statement: "“During targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those persons will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and when appropriate, arrested by ICE.”

Not everybody's buying the "collateral apprehensions" theory, however. The Texas Civil Rights Project, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Workers Defense Project have jointly filed a substantive Freedom of Information Act request for information to determine if the uniquely aggressive raids in Austin are retaliatory in nature. Gov. Greg Abbott has reacted angrily to the more nuanced approach to enforce immigration policy in Austin by focusing on felons. In response, Abbott stripped the county of $1.5 million in grants affecting community programs not even related to law enforcement.

Donald Trump, who has called for heightened enforcement nationally, once donated $35,000 to Abbott's gubernatorial campaign after the state dropped a fraud lawsuit against Trump University. Abbott also was instrumental in getting out the vote out for Trump in Texas.

ICE officials have declined to idenfity the 51 people detained as part of "Operation Cross Check" that occurred during a four-day period in the second week of February, according to the report. This lack of infomration makes it difficult to discern why the immigrants were arrested and their past criminal histories.

It also makes it impossible to know if the initiative targeted wanted individuals or perhaps those of a particular ethnicity.

The raids have created an uproar in Austin, where vigils, marches and rallies are a daily occurrence in protest of the bolstered enforcement.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

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