Retired ICE and HSI agent clears up confusion regarding migrant arrests and raids

SAN ANTONIO — There are a lot of misconceptions and false information going around about migrants being targeted for arrest, and where they are being targeted.  

Earlier this week, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar asked people not to spread false information about ICE raids.

“I think it’s the rumors, because there is a lot of information flowing,” Victor Avila, Retired ICE and HSI Supervisory Special Agent said. 

Avila says there is a lot of information surrounding migrant arrests and some of it is false.

“I mean, people don’t want to go out and eat at restaurants. They’re not going to shop at Wal-Mart,” Avila said. 

Avila says if you have a permit or VISA to be in the country lawfully, you have nothing to worry about.

“There’s no ICE officer doing random checks in neighbors or schools, and ‘let me see if you look Hispanic, so I’m going after you,’ that doesn’t exist,” Avila said. 

Avila says if you are hanging around individuals who are being targeted you may be asked questions, just like a police officer would ask you questions.  It doesn’t mean you are being detained or arrested, said Avila.

“All it means is that if I show up to a location looking for a certain individual and there’s ten individuals there, I need to determine, first of all, who’s the individual there.  I need to question and identify everyone there, so I could take the correct person. If there happens to be U.S. citizens there, then so be it and you have nothing to worry about. It doesn’t mean, that I don’t have the authority to question.  We have the authority to question anyone,” Avila said. 

Avila says there are policy changes, that have happened, since the Biden Administration.

It is now enough to arrest someone who is illegally in the country, and agents can now go into sanctuary places like churches, courts, schools, hospitals, and other locations to arrest an individual. 

Avila does say however, that’s not their interest, they are going after the individual not the location.  

“We’ve seen them gather there seeking refuge, that’s not going to work anymore. If the person that ICE and HSI is looking for goes into one of these locations, ICE is going to go get them,” Avila said.