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ICE night operations in Texas: A new way of detaining migrants puts communities on alert

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • ICE conducted a nighttime operation in McAllen, Texas, arresting two men and one woman during a vehicle-related enforcement action, according to the article.
  • Activists and undocumented workers told Univision that nighttime operations have removed what they viewed as a safer period for travel and errands.
  • The article also cites a separate Memphis operation that ended with 121 undocumented immigrants arrested, according to a DHS statement.

Night no longer feels like a safe window for many migrants in Texas. Activists and workers consulted by Univision said the expansion of nighttime ICE operations has forced some immigrants to change when they shop, work and move around.

The change has been especially visible in McAllen. Recordings from a street operation this week showed ICE agents arresting two men and one woman. The arrests deepened anxiety in a migrant community that had regarded the night as a relatively secure time to travel.

There is no longer a time when they feel safe.

· Activists interviewed by UnivisionActivists described the effect of nighttime ICE operations on migrants’ sense of security.

Activists told Univision that “there is no longer a time when they feel safe.” They said parents may now have to find different ways to buy food and other necessities for their children. Undocumented workers also described the practical effect on their routines, saying the evening had been their main opportunity to move around without fear.

Mothers and fathers will have to find another way to buy food for their children and go out to buy things they need.

· Activists interviewed by UnivisionThey warned that families’ everyday errands could become more difficult.

One worker said, “I go out after 7:30 or 8 p.m., and it is not just me, it is the time when everyone goes shopping.” The article says other undocumented workers, who spoke anonymously, expressed frustration as nighttime enforcement restricted families’ freedom of movement.

The same approach has also appeared in Memphis. An operation at a nightclub on Aug. 30, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Sept. 1, resulted in 121 undocumented immigrants being arrested. The official statement said some detainees had criminal records involving theft, drug possession, domestic violence, driving under the influence, assault, endangering children and prostitution.

I go out after 7:30 or 8 p.m., and it is not just me, it is the time when everyone goes shopping.

· An undocumented worker interviewed by UnivisionThe worker explained why the evening had traditionally been an important time for migrants to travel and shop.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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