ELECTIONS, POLITICS, & GOVERNMENT
Rumors of ICE raids across Utah circulate online
Jan 24, 2025, 9:32 PM
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 22: A poster calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to get out of the community hangs on a door in the Little Village neighborhood on January 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The majority of the population in this neighborhood on the city's southwest side is made up of immigrants from Mexico. Business owners along the neighborhood's commercial strip have said their business has suffered recently, which they attribute to threats of ICE raids in the community. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Rumors of ICE raids across Utah have been swirling online.
Immigration attorney Carlos Trujillo said he’s been hearing about the rumors from his clients. One of the raids even involves one of his clients.
“We have heard directly from people that have been affected by it. So we do know for a fact that these raids are ongoing. And especially today, especially this morning, we know that in multiple places they have been spotted doing these raids.”
Related: ‘Every child welcome’ in SLC schools, district says in response to Trump immigration orders
Homeland Security sent out a memo on Thursday saying that ICE agents will now be able to deport migrants covered by temporary protections under the Biden Administration.
Trujillo said these are people who entered the U.S. legally. Not just from Mexico, but also from other Latin American countries like Cuba and Venezuela.
“There is an estimate of 1.5 million people that came under these lawful programs. [If you] encounter a person with Humanitarian Parole, you can detain them, you can strip them, and you can put them on under expedited removal, which [means] they don’t even get a hearing.”
Urgent cases typically use the Humanitarian Parole Program. Those include getting medical treatment, reuniting families in tough situations, and protecting people fleeing violence or persecution.
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“If you came a year ago under this program, [and] you’ve been working lawfully, you’ve been doing everything that you were allowed to do under the law, you can now be grabbed and sent back right away.”
Trujillo shared two pieces of advice. First, attend workshops to learn more.
“There are many workshops happening in the community with many organizations trying to teach the rights that we still have. So number one is please if you’re aware of these workshops, please attend. Please obtain the knowledge necessary to do things the right way.”
Second, don’t make the situation worse.
“If you are a victim of a raid or a victim of being picked up, even if you’re legal, please collaborate with the authorities. There is no need to make it worse than it already is. Keep calm. Proceed with whatever instructions they give you. That is the best that we can do right now.”
ICE has yet to respond to comment.
Related: Local immigration attorney reacts to President Trump’s immigration orders
