While it’s unclear how many arrests have been made by ICE this past week in San Antonio, the agency is ramping up operations.
SAN ANTONIO — ICE arrests have ramped up across the country, including in San Antonio. A Washington Post report states that the field office in the Alamo City has a goal of making 75 arrests a day.
So how are they pulling it off?
San Antonio’s Police Chief William McManus said his department will help with operations as needed.
On Monday night, during a district 10 community meeting, the San Antonio Field Office Director for ICE, Michael Vergara spoke to the crowd. He explained ICE agents are targeting specific individuals who have a criminal record.
“We are focus or target only individuals with criminal records,” Vergara said. “The worst of the worst, anyone who poses a threat to society.”
In addition to arrest operations, ICE is checking with SAPD every three hours to see who they have taken into custody. Before this week, ICE would only check once a day, according to the chief.
“ICE will come in, look for their people, issue a detainer if they need to and be gone,” McManus said.
So far, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has not been asked to participate in any operations. However, Sheriff Javier Salazar told CNN he has been briefed with HSI leaders.
“My understanding is that they’re not just going to going willy nilly school to school church to church to see which kids or teachers or whoever may be undocumented,” Salazar said.
Salazar talked about the many social media posts circulating about ICE raids in San Antonio. On Wednesday SAISD leaders had to send out a letter debunking a post that claims three children were taken from a school.
“Promoting rumors and things like that again do nothing to help bring down the anxiety and fear levels in our community,” Salazar said.
Bexar County Jail officials report right now there are 301 inmates in the jail with detainers from ICE. However, they said that number has not changed much since last week.
It is unclear how many people have been detained by ICE locally. However, ICE reports nationwide since January 23, they have made more than 5,500 arrests.