The Trump administration is ramping up immigration enforcement nationwide, with ICE reporting over 950 arrests on Sunday.
The Geauga County Sheriff, Scott Hildenbrand, has informed 3News that 20 individuals detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are currently housed in a facility in Chardon.
Hildenbrand told 3News that it is not known where the detainees came from.
Shortly after assuming office, President Donald Trump issued executive orders that emphasized the expulsion of undocumented immigrants and called into question birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents residing in the country unlawfully.
According to ICE officials, the agency conducted 956 arrests across the nation on Sunday and 286 on Saturday. While some of these operations may have been routine, ICE averaged 311 daily arrests in the previous fiscal year, which concluded on Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Heights officials say they have no information about an alleged raid by ICE at the Cilantro Taqueria at Coventry and Euclid Heights Blvd.
“The City is working to confirm the veracity of the report, which first surfaced on social media,” officials wrote in a statement that was released on Monday. “The City of Cleveland Heights did not have prior knowledge of, was not involved in, nor did it cooperate or coordinate with federal officials from ICE in a raid on Cilantro Taqueria. The alleged raid and detention of persons at this establishment have not been confirmed by the City of Cleveland Heights at this time.”
Last week, Chardon immigration attorney Elizabeth B. Ford expressed concerns about the sweeping changes to 3News’ Bryant McCray.
“Everyone was kind of expecting something. … I guess no one expected it that quickly, but I’m not super surprised,” Ford told 3News in a Wednesday interview. “They have free reign to pick up anyone, pretty much, now who’s not legally present in the United States, which is a lot of people who live in our area.”
Ford advised undocumented immigrants to know their rights if approached by ICE agents.
“If they come to your home, you can ask to see a warrant. You don’t have to let them in,” she explained. “And you don’t have to sign anything if you’re not sure what it is.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
