Groups call for support of immigrant families after KC-area restaurant raids
Within a day after federal immigration agents raided two locations of a local Mexican restaurant and detained at least 11 people, some community leaders are speaking out about the toll on immigrant families — demanding more information about the agents’ conduct and calling on local governments to show support for immigrants around KC.
Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrested seven people in Kansas City, Kansas, and four in Lenexa at two locations of El Toro Loco, a local Mexican bar and grill, on Wednesday morning.
Agents said they were responding to an issued criminal search warrant related to “harboring, human smuggling, or labor exploitation” before issuing arrests.
At the Lenexa restaurant, the HSI agents left behind a copy of a warrant signed by a judge authorizing them to seize records and documents. The warrant did not name any individuals who were to be arrested.
Three organizations that offer services supporting local Latino and immigrant families — including Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR), the Central Area Betterment Association and El Centro — threw their support behind detainees and their affected loved ones as questions regarding their whereabouts linger.
AIRR reported Thursday evening that three individuals had been released from ICE custody, one was being detained in Oklahoma and the locations of the others were still unknown.
The city of Lenexa said its police department was not involved in the raids but that it believed in community-oriented policing of all residents, “regardless of immigration status.”
Lenexa Mayor Julie Sayers in a Thursday statement said that HSI had not advised the city a raid was taking place at the Lenexa location but that it knew a criminal search warrant had been issued.
“Our responsibility is to protect the public, uphold the law, and serve our community with honor, integrity, and professionalism,” according to the statement.
As of publication time, several organizations — among them the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, and Mayor Tyrone Garner’s office — had not responded to requests for comment from The Star.
Other organizations that didn’t respond as of publication time included the local Mexican and Honduran consulates, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and HSI.
Silence talks
Edgar Galicia, executive director of CABA, said silence from the local government, particularly the Unified Government, sends a message to people who are concerned by local ICE activity in recent months.
“We wish that local government would exercise a stronger voice,” he said. “Yes, the pressure of federal funding and the unwavering stream of executive orders from the Oval Office continues to happen, but we need to voice our reality.”
Galicia said immigrant families are important for KCK financially, especially as the government faces financial challenges and residents grapple with increasing property tax bills. Immigrants contribute to the local economy and are part of the local tax base, he added.
Although AIRR is the organization leading outreach efforts for affected families, Galicia said CABA will do what it can to support it and other groups. CABA is also speaking with immigration lawyers to find out what other ways it can help.
The group in the meantime will be continuing its individual efforts, including door-to-door and public outreach and education and offering guidance for local businesses.
Local support
AIRR, which was among the first organizations to publicly identify that the raids were taking place on Wednesday, is leading local support efforts and is trying to connect affected families with resources. The organization on Thursday posted to social media, requesting families message them for additional guidance.
The group held a news conference and issued a public statement on Wednesday afternoon, both of which backed immigrant families and condemned the arrests.
“We stand in solidarity with the workers and demand answers regarding the conduct of HSI agents and the basis of these actions,” according to one statement.
Since January, AIRR has confirmed about 14 incidents involving ICE in the metro.
‘Devastated’
In a Thursday afternoon statement, El Centro said it was devastated by recent immigration enforcement actions happening in the area. It also said that a single warrant shouldn’t have resulted in numerous arrests and alleged that agents are violating immigrants’ constitutional rights.
“These actions continue to unjustly dehumanize our immigrant families and desensitize the public to the consequences that follow after (family) separation, as raids and detentions are becoming everyday news headlines,” according to the statement.
The group said it will continue prioritizing immigrant families regardless of citizenship status and offered a reminder that it offers various Know Your Rights training and shares information on what to do if a loved one is deported.
“At this critical time, it is important that we remain informed and united, working together to lift each other up,” according to the statement. It added that one of the ways to do so is through voting.
