Updated on July 17, 10:15 a.m.
WEST NORRITON, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 14 people during a raid at a grocery store in West Norriton, Montgomery County, on Wednesday. The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia said at least six of them are Mexican nationals.
Concerned community members shouted “ICE is here,” warning the public that ICE agents were raiding the Super Gigante International Food Market along West Main Street. Some tried to intervene.
Dozens of ICE agents were wearing military tactical gear and covering their faces as they raided the building, some even spotted on the roof.
In a statement, ICE officials said the search was federally authorized and conducted with a warrant. Homeland Security and the IRS were also involved.
ICE said the 14 individuals lacked the legal status allowing them to be in the United States and were taken into custody pending removal proceedings.
Rachel Rutter, an immigration attorney and founder of the nonprofit Project Libertad, went to the grocery store when she heard about the raid. She said it looked like the agents were ready for war.
“I would say at least a dozen ICE agents. All of them had their faces covered, and a lot of them were wearing full military garb — fully in camo, combat boots, they had these giant rifles,” she said. “It’s just overkill. It was just people buying food or people working at the grocery store.”
She said these people were not the criminals that the Trump administration said it would focus on. Raids like this have instilled fear in the community, she noted.
“We run a lot of programs for youth and families in Norristown and we’ve definitely seen a bunch of people decide not to come out to the program,” she added.
Consul Carlos Obrador, head consul of the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia, said at least six of the arrestees are Mexican nationals.
“We are in the process of confirming the number of Mexican nationals affected in this operation, but we know that at least 6 Mexican individuals were detained,” he said in a statement. “It is important to point out that regardless of their immigration status, people have basic rights. If someone is detained by immigration authorities, they have the right to request to speak with their consulate. The Mexican Consulate is prepared to provide our nationals with legal assistance in the event they require it.”