Police department confirms ICE arrests

Waseca Police Chief Kris Markeson confirms that officers from the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency have taken three individuals into custody in Waseca since Jan. 14. Both Markeson and Waseca County Sheriff Jay Dulas report that ICE does not communicate with their agencies regarding its local activities, and acquiring information from ICE officers can be a slow process.

 

After hearing from someone in Waseca that a 28-year-old man and his 10-year-old son had been detained during an arrest which took place downtown on Jan. 14, the police department was eventually able to confirm ICE had taken them under a “final order of removal.” Another report from a citizen allowed the department to confirm the arrest of a 47-year-old man within city limits on Jan. 22.

 

Markeson and Dulas both shared with the Pioneer that their departments place great value on positive relationships with all members of the community. They urge people to report any incidents which they find unsettling or disturbing.

 

“It’s not uncommon for federal agencies to take action without notifying local law enforcement agencies,” observes Dulas. 

 

“As you might imagine, this is a very sensitive subject for a lot of people,” says Markeson regarding concerns that ICE might be carrying out investigations in the area. “It has a lot of moving parts.”

 

Sheriff Dulas acknowledges many people have strong feelings when it comes to the controversies surrounding ICE operations. He states, “If anyone has concerns about ICE activity in Waseca County, I encourage residents to contact our dispatch at 507-835-0500 and report what they’re observing.  Officers will work to verify what is being reported.  I also encourage bystanders and observers not to physically engage with ICE officers.”

 

The Department of Homeland Security website provides a list of arrests which indicates Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had arrested 12 people in Waseca prior to Jan. 14: Elsa Eldonada Morales, My Dung Chau, Rosa Rivera Chavez, Suzanna Salazar Amaya, Nohemy Bobadillo Oliva, Maria Millan, Lin Chen, Miranda Bustamante, Antonia Vega, Aracely Garza De Lopez, and Dolores Bautista Lopez (dhs.gov/wow). The website lists their countries of origin as Honduras, Ecuador, China, Vietnam and Mexico and states they have been convicted of crimes including human trafficking, drug trafficking, smuggling and selling drugs, and driving under the influence.

 

Based on input from numerous sources, it seems likely most of these arrestees were housed in the federal prison, rather than having been part of the general population.