A Los Angeles-area church has accused federal immigration enforcement agents of causing “terror” and detaining a man who was volunteering at a church-run food bank.
Officials at North Hills United Methodist Church say federal immigration agents entered the church grounds on Jan. 29 during a food ministry, an event designed to provide meals to the community.
“It is with sadness and pain in our hearts that we share that our beloved Church was desecrated on January 29 by immigration agents who entered our premises wearing masks and carrying weapons.” the church wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
“Despite being asked not to enter, they did not respect our request and forced their way in. They ran through the church building among families, children and the elderly as we were serving our food ministry, among other ministries that we had to stop.” they added.
In a second post, the church said it was “devastated” by “the terror inflicted on our church.”
Church officials said a “beloved member of the community,” Carlos Chavez, was arrested during the raid.
Mayra Medina-Núñez, director of a local nonprofit called The Refugee Children Center, said KTL that Chavez tried to “seek refuge” from officers on the church grounds.
“The officers did not hesitate to pursue him, holding large firearms in their hands, even as someone shouted that they were trespassing on private property and that children, women and the elderly were present, many of them waiting in line at the food bank,” Medina-Núñez said.
Medina-Núñez said a truck and several fully masked officers with large firearms were at the exit of the church parking lot.
“Their presence frightened children and families on sacred church grounds,” she added.
In a statement to The independentHomeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said agents “did NOT target the United Methodist Church or the parking lot in North Hills, California,” and that the activity was part of an “immigration enforcement operation in the area.”
McLaughlin added that Chavez was “an illegal alien from Mexico who had been removed from this country earlier in 2016” and that he “chose to flee from law enforcement, a federal crime, and pursued them on foot before his arrest.
Video shared by the church shows two officers chasing a man through a parking lot as someone shouts, “Why are you doing this?!”
One of the masked officers can be seen holding the man, identified by the church as Chavez, by his shoulders. You then see another officer wearing a full face mask, hat and goggles come by to help arrest the man.
“This is a church campus. You are not welcome here,” someone tells the officers as they walk away with Chavez.
North Hills United Methodist Church Pastor Ervin Adin denounced “the senseless actions of ICE,” which not only disrupted food intake, but also an event for mothers and children in the community.
“Our food ministry is an expression of God’s love for the hungry and because of ICE’s senseless actions, we were forced to close,” Aguilon said in a press release, per KTLA. “Another ministry that was interrupted was the activity in our church garden, where mothers, young children and youth were all on the church campus, prompting leadership to take action and confine all attendees to a secure area for over four hours.”
“Imagine being a child and seeing your mother scared, crying and wondering what is going on, while you have to lock yourself in a small room for hours,” Aguilon added.
Aguilon told KTLA that Chavez’s wife said he had already been deported to Mexico.
The independent has contacted North Hills United Methodist Church for comment.
“On January 29, Border Patrol conducted an immigration enforcement operation in the area of Rayen Street and Sepulveda Boulevard that resulted in the arrest of Carlos Chavez-Guzman, an illegal alien from Mexico who had previously been removed from this country in 2016. Chavez-Guzman chose to run from law enforcement, a federal crime, and led them on a chase before his arrest,” McLaughlin’s statement said. “This operation also resulted in the arrest of two other individuals from Mexico who violated our country’s immigration laws. All three of these illegal aliens will remain in ICE custody pending removal.”
She added: “We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is now offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to deport themselves. We encourage anyone here illegally to take advantage of this offer and preserve the opportunity to properly return legally to the US to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without the opportunity to return,” said McLaughlin.
#ICE #storms #Los #Angeles #church #grounds #arrests #man #works #food #bank #report