Immigration Advocates Release New Details of Brutal ICE Arrests

I.C.E. badge. Photo from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Local immigrant advocacy organization Voces de la Frontera released new details Tuesday afternoon on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests that occurred across the Milwaukee region this past weekend, including allegations and video evidence of violent, excessive force by federal agents.

The recent wave of arrests appears to indicate a “targeted ICE surge” in the Milwaukee area, said Voces de la Frontera Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz. Similar to ICE operations in other parts of the country, witnesses report — and video presented by Voces corroborates — that agents are wearing masks while making arrests. They are also conducting traffic stops, swarming vehicles with agents, smashing car windows and dragging people out of their cars.

ICE agents conducted “targeted operations” over the weekend, arresting 39 people, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The spokesperson said many of those arrested have criminal histories.

During a press conference Tuesday, Neumann-Ortiz said her organization has managed to corroborate 26 to 28 community reports of arrests and detentions and that “the overwhelming majority have no criminal record whatsoever.” Alongside descriptions of violent use of force, Neumann-Ortiz said ICE agents are approaching people with their guns drawn.

“We have definitely seen what I would describe as a targeted ICE surge that is targeting working-class families,” Neumann-Ortiz said. “These are good members of our community. So their attitude toward people is dangerous; it is very dangerous how they’re conducting these operations.”

One woman, Estenderly Marte Polanco, was arrested on Saturday, June 27, by ICE. Witnesses who spoke at the Voces press conference said agents smashed the window of Polanco’s vehicle, ripped her out onto the ground, busted her lip, choked her and forced her head between her legs. Urban Milwaukee was unable to find any state or federal court records indicating Polanco has a criminal record. 

Another man, Carlos Suarez, was also stopped over the weekend while driving with his fiancée and her brother. Through a translator, Suarez said they were followed from El Rey grocery store and the agents broke their car window and detained all three. The agents called both Suarez and his fiancée a “dog,” he said. They later let him go after reviewing his work permit. His fiancée is in detention in Kenosha, he said. He still hasn’t been able to find her brother.

A man from Nicaragua, Luis Manuel Valle Gonzalez, was arrested. His sister said he is sick and has trouble with his kidneys, that he has never broken the law and has no criminal record. Neumann-Ortiz said he fled violence in Nicaragua and would be in danger if he is deported there. Through tears, his sister begged for help for her brother to keep him safe in detention and prevent his deportation back to Nicaragua.

Neumann-Ortiz also said her organization found two cases of ICE arresting someone who was recently a victim of a crime and is a part of ongoing legal proceedings.

Another local resident, Jacqlyn Eckstrom, said she came upon what appeared to be an ICE arrest on Greenfield Avenue on Friday. She said she saw vehicles with Illinois plates blocking the road. Agents in vests and masks smashed the window of a car and grabbed a woman. She approached the car after they left and found two children crying in the backseat. “The sister was hugging her brother,” she said.

Local elected officials Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic and Milwaukee County Sup. Juan Miguel Martinez both said they have seen video or heard of ICE breaking local ordinances that ban ICE staging on public property.

Dimitrijevic and Neumann-Ortiz both said ICE agents were spotted staging at a local Milwaukee Police Department district station. This is prohibited by legislation passed by the Milwaukee Common Council as part of an ICE Out package of resolutions that also prohibits law enforcement from wearing masks in Milwaukee. The city policy does allow an exception for undercover operations or special weapons and tactics teams.

“We now have laws in place in Milwaukee that prohibit the use of masks for any law enforcement in our city. We believe that all law enforcement should be identifiable to the public and unmasked at all times, and we are requesting that Milwaukee Police and the Office of the City Attorney take the necessary steps to enforce these laws and to immediately address any observed violations,” members of the Milwaukee Common Council said in a statement Tuesday.

On Monday, a constituent sent Martinez a video of ICE staging in Mitchell Park. In February, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance that would require ICE to seek a permit from Milwaukee County Parks before it can stage on county parkland. Martinez said he went to the park to show the agents the ordinance, but they were gone when he arrived. He has since spoken with Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball about the issue, he said.

“At this point, what we have to do is we have to encourage our community to keep eyes on it,” Martinez said. “Write down incidents, write down everything that’s happening — when, where, how — so we can properly bring forward lawsuits in the future.”