Confirming federal immigration agent presence is nothing new for Juan Fonseca Tapia. As co-founder and organizer for , he responds to alerts sent to their rapid response network to confirm reported ICE presence.
That鈥檚 how his day started on Saturday, Aug. 2, at around 7:30 a.m. when he got an alert for ICE presence just across the state line between Danbury, 黑料新闻, and Brewster, New York. He said it was 鈥渧ery close鈥� to his residence.
Fonseca Tapia started driving around the area to alert people about ICE presence after spotting over five suspicious vehicles.
鈥淚 saw a Ford Explorer that seemed suspicious, but then I saw a person inside on the driver's side,鈥� Fonseca Tapia said. 鈥淗e was wearing a vest and a helmet. I told myself, 鈥極h, it's a contractor, a construction person.' So I kept on driving.鈥�
Fonseca Tapia said he later noticed the vehicle following him, so he decided to pull into the parking lot of St. Lawrence O鈥橳oole Church. He said that the car followed him into the parking lot, along with two other vehicles. Then, the person dressed as a construction worker approached his rolled-up window.
鈥淗e wouldn't identify himself even though I kept on asking him to identify himself, and he kept on insisting for me to roll down my window and also to leave the parking lot of the church,鈥� Fonseca Tapia said. 鈥淗e said, 鈥業f you don't leave, I have more of my guys, and we're going to take care of you.鈥� And I really felt that they were probably going to take me.鈥�
In a Fonseca Tapia captured inside his car, the man is seen wearing a high visibility safety vest, a face covering over his nose and mouth, and an orange hard hat. He can be heard through the window saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 with federal law enforcement.鈥�
After Fonseca Tapia asks what agency he is from, the man can be heard saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 not gonna tell you.鈥�
WTNH-TV Thursday that ICE confirmed the officer is one of their agents from Hudson Valley, New York.
It is not illegal for ICE agents to wear masks or disguises, but it is a .
Fonseca Tapia said Brewster Police and officers from the Putnam County Sheriff鈥檚 Office later arrived at the church parking lot. He said other members of his rapid response team also arrived.
After local police talked with the ICE agents, Fonseca Tapia said they asked him to leave and all law enforcement officers dispersed.
Brewster Police and the Putnam County Sheriff鈥檚 Office did not respond for comment by the time of the publication of this story.
In a written statement to WTNH, ICE officials said their officers were conducting surveillance in the area that morning.
鈥淎nti-ICE agitators followed them and attempted to disrupt their operation presenting a safety concern for the officers, the community and even the agitators themselves,鈥� the statement said. 鈥淭hese anti-ICE agitators should be more concerned with the public safety threat they present while disrupting federal law enforcement operations than whatever personal satisfaction they derive from harassing our officers.鈥�
Juliana Soares, a leader with Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants, disputed the idea that the activists presented a safety concern. She said their group operates as a form of neighborhood watch, so their priority is the safety of their community.
鈥淲e're members of our community that are keeping an eye out,鈥� Soares said. 鈥淪ince the people and the community are the only things that are really stepping up to help us, we are trying to just spread the word out as soon as we see that.鈥�
A first for Greater Danbury Rapid Response
Fonseca Tapia said the experience was 鈥減retty terrifying.鈥�
鈥淭his was the first time that we witnessed ICE impersonating literally the people that they are kidnapping,鈥� Fonseca Tapia said.
Soares' first thought was, 鈥淥n a Saturday morning? What, like, what is happening?鈥�
Soares said it left her feeling disgusted.
鈥淲ho are you really targeting that you have to dress up as a construction worker to pick up people that are just working, you know?鈥� Soares said. 鈥淪o it was this mix of shock and anger and disbelief at the lengths that they're going to just torment workers.鈥�
In talking to some friends in Massachusetts, Soares said she learned this technique has already been seen in their home state.
鈥淭hey weren't surprised at all when I showed them [the video]... but it is new for us, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing,鈥� Soares said.
鈥榃e are the line of defense鈥�
According to Fonseca Tapia, the experience underscored the importance for him to continue to do the work he does with Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants.
鈥淭he only thing that we have right now is us. Nobody else is coming to save us, and we are the only ones that can keep us safe,鈥� Fonseca Tapia said.
Soares said she and her fellow advocates want to raise awareness, not only so 黑料新闻鈥檚 undocumented residents are aware, but so more allies that are citizens and able to speak out in the community can get involved.
鈥淭he people and the community are the only things that are really stepping up to help us,鈥� Soares said.
Fonseca Tapia and Soares are encouraging folks to get involved with their local immigrant advocacy group now that ICE agents are continuing to step up their methods in detaining community members.
鈥淲e need everyone right now,鈥� Fonseca Tapia said. 鈥淲e are the line of defense, nothing else.鈥�
