14 people detained in federal ICE raid at Bro-Tex in St. Paul
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Federal officials now say 14 people were arrested during a law enforcement operation earlier this week at a St. Paul manufacturer.
The Department of Homeland Security issued an statement on Thursday, two days after the raid at Bro-Tex in the city’s St. Anthony Park neighborhood. The statement said officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies executed a search warrant that resulted in the arrests of 14 people on alleged immigration violations.
A DHS spokesperson said one of the individuals arrested had past domestic abuse charges, and another person had allegedly illegally reentered the U.S.
“Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to protect public safety, national security, and economic stability while rescuing individuals who may be victims of labor trafficking or exploitation. These operations target illegal employment networks that undermine American workers, destabilize labor markets, and threaten American communities,” DHS said in the statement.
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The agency did not provide any further details on the people who were detained. It was not clear how many of those arrested remain in custody.
Tuesday’s operation at Bro-Tex drew a large protest. Some protesters tried to block law enforcement vehicles from leaving the area, and federal agents deployed chemical irritants and projectiles to disperse the crowd.
The operation and the tactics used by federal agencies drew condemnation from city officials and community organizations. Family members of the people detained said earlier this week that they were still trying to reach their loved ones.
In a fundraiser posted online, seeking help with legal expenses, Karla Alarcon Hernandez said her father, Carlos Alberto Alarcon Avila, was among those arrested. She said he worked at Bro-Tex, and also worked as a cook at the Turkey to Go stand at the Minnesota State Fair.
“My dad has lived in the St. Paul area for many years, working long hours and doing everything he can to care for us. He has no criminal record, no history of harm, nothing but a life of hard work and love for his family,” Hernandez wrote.
Erik Alarcon’s uncle and cousin were working at Bro-Tex when they were detained by federal agents. He said they have decided to self-deport. Alarcon said they chose this option largely because they did not want to remain in jail. He worries about what awaits them in Mexico.
Alarcon learned of their detention after receiving urgent calls from his parents. He said his uncle has lived in Minnesota for more than a decade and is recently married.
In a statement on Thursday, Bro-Tex said it had “no information to share” about what happened at its facility two days earlier.
“Bro-Tex continues to operate and remains focused on serving our customers’ needs,” the statement read.
