NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — More than two dozen Norristown residents have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the last two weeks. Their family members gathered Wednesday night to call for the release of their loved ones, and for Montgomery County to stop working with the agency.
Unides Para Servir Norristown invited the family members of detainees to speak out and share their stories at the Reformed Church of the Ascension.
Jannet Navarro’s brother-in-law, 40-year-old Wilfredo Rafael Ojeda Solis, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, said he was detained by masked agents while on his way to work. They were looking for someone else.
“We’ve been left scrambling to try and find resources and assistance for him,” she said. “He absolutely wants to fight for his case, and he wants to do anything possible to be able to come home and be here with us.”
Other speakers acknowledged how their communities are gripped with fear, and many are too concerned for their safety to raise their voices.
“Everybody’s terrified,” said Rose de la Luz. “No one wants to go out. A lot of events have been canceled. Last Monday and Tuesday, ICE was out here, like, in every corner. So we don’t know what to expect. The community’s hurting.”
Her 22-year-old cousin, Aziel, and her 27-year-old brother-in-law, Maximino Garcestrinad — both from Mexico — were arrested within the span of a month. Aziel was in the passenger seat during a traffic stop for a taillight, and Maximino was arrested on his way to work, even though ICE was not looking for him.
Unides Para Servir Norristown is calling on Montgomery County to pass the Welcoming Act, which would limit communication between police and ICE. Presently, when people are detained on criminal charges, law enforcement can give their information to ICE and an extra four-hour detainer can be placed on them after they post bail, during which ICE can pick them up.
The organization said at least 25 people from Norristown have been detained by ICE since May 30.