Gettysburg community responds to Central Pa. ICE raids

(Undated) — Of the 11 individuals arrested in three targeted ICE raids at restaurants in Adams and Franklin counties on Wednesday, six were working at the Montezuma Mexican restaurant in Gettysburg.

They were all men, and they were all the “breadwinners” of their families, according to Jenny Dumont, the chair of Gettysburg Rising, a local activist group.

The Montezuma location in Gettysburg has since closed temporarily but will be “back for business soon,” according to a Thursday Facebook post. 

Some community groups are looking to raise money to cover the expenses for the men’s families while they await their bond hearings in two to three weeks, Dumont said. All 11 individuals are detained at York County prison, according to ICE officials. 

Those arrested were found to be in violation of immigration law, according to ICE officials.

“ICE regularly conducts targeted enforcement operations during which additional resources and personnel are dedicated to apprehending deportable foreign nationals,” ICE officials said. 

 

Some members of the community welcomed the news on social media, pointing out that the individuals were apprehended because they were in the country illegally. Others commented that they liked the food and service at the restaurant and bemoaned that it is closed.

John Rice, the vice president of Rice Fruit Company in Menallen Township, thought negatively of the raids.

“I think it’s such a poor use of our law enforcement agencies to round up productive employees who are having no adverse effect in our community,” he said.

As one of the owners of the family-run farm, Rice noted that many immigrants who are in the country, legally or illegally, are necessary because they are available and have the required skill set for jobs like fruit picking. Locals are not interested in those jobs, Rice said.

“When there’s this kind of intrusion into our local businesses, it’s only going to hurt,” he said.

Mary Studzinski, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, said there are three main reasons why someone would choose to enter the U.S. without documentation.

They likely want to find employment “and a better life essentially,” want to be united with family or they are fleeing persecution and violence, Studzinski said.

Obtaining legal status can be difficult for undocumented immigrants, especially if they came to the U.S. for work, according to Studzinski.

That is because it is “almost impossible” for employers to assist undocumented employees with attaining legal status, Studzinski said.

The pathway is a bit clearer for those with a family relationship in the U.S. or those who are able to apply for asylum. 

The executive orders from President Donald Trump’s administration have resulted in a “harsh impact on immigrant families in our communities,” Studzinski said.

“It rescinded all prior priorities so now that anyone, regardless of their history, if they currently don’t have permanent status, can be swept into detention,” she added.

In many cases, those who are deported or separated from their families have children who are U.S. citizens, Studzinski said.

In addition, the government has tended to target individuals rather than employers in the past, she added.

Casa de la Cultura, a group promoting the culturing rights of immigrant communities, is accepting donations for the families of the six men arrested at the Gettysburg restaurant. The group is also collecting gift cards to Kennie’s or Giant, according to a Thursday Facebook post.

Another group, Manos Unidas, an Adams County nonprofit that promotes the integration of the growing diverse population, is using its services to disseminate information to the immigrant community.

The purpose is not to prevent deportation but to plan ahead for undocumented individuals, Dumont said.

This includes securing child custody, bank accounts and property as well as learning potential pathways to citizenship.

“It’s really good for people to have that in place ahead of time,” Dumont said.

Gettysburg Rising held a “rapid response” meeting on Thursday night to discuss long-term planning that will include scheduling community forums to dispel myths about immigration, Dumont said. The group is advocating for immigration reform so there are more legal pathways for the undocumented population.

The country benefits from immigrant labor, but offers them no pathway to citizenship, Dumont said.

“There’s a real, in our eyes, hostile climate toward immigrants right now,” Dumont said.

Deportation officers from ICE do not conduct sweeps or raids that target undocumented individuals indiscriminately, according to ICE officials.

“ICE’s enforcement actions are targeted and lead driven,” ICE officials said. “ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy.”

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The Hanover Evening Sun.