STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — The latest data shows there’s an increased immigration enforcement effort going on on the Treasure Coast.
ICE is now using at building at 3500 SE Commerce Avenue in Stuart as a temporary facility.
Thursday afternoon we saw a heavy law enforcement presence in a residential neighborhood not far from this ICE facility.
FHP and FWC officers on SE Durant Avenue in Stuart Thursday afternoon. (CBS12 News){p}{/p}
The Florida Highway Patrol and others converged on SE Durant Avenue, a residential street in the Golden Gate neighborhood in Stuart, some wearing masks, carrying guns as choppers circled overhead.
A state trooper said they tried to pull a car over and someone got out of the car and ran but he would not say if this was a part of an immigration crackdown.
“I think it’s really disappointing and sad. We have immigrants who are here legally who have visas, who have green cards and they’re getting detained,” said Kendra Zellner, a bystander.
See also: Authorities cracking down on illegal golf cart driving in Port St. Lucie
Less than a mile from where we saw that swarm of law enforcement is a building at 3500 SE Commerce Avenue in Stuart, which we confirmed is an ICE facility.
“We’re just checking to find out is this an ICE facility?” we asked a uniformed officer going inside. “It is,” he replied. And can you tell us what they do here?” we asked. “I’m not allowed to talk about anything right now,” he said.
Based on state data, there’s increased immigration enforcement going on on the Treasure Coast.
Martin County has the third-highest number of immigration arrests in the state with more than 400 since the beginning of August.
Wednesday night, an ICE protest took place outside the facility.
Samuel Antonio Rubio-Facio, 23, of Stuart was arrested at that protest by Stuart police. He is charged with battery on a law enforcement office and disorderly conduct.
The protests have attracted plenty of attention from those who feel ICE agents are going too far.
We spoke with one man, a college student from Port St. Lucie, who requested that we not use his last name.
“What would you say to President Trump about this issue right now?” we asked him. “I’d say to him that it’s insane what’s going on because they’re targeting everybody,” said Ryan, 22, who says he’s a criminal justice major at Indian River Community College.
An immigration attorney in West Palm Beach echoes that feeling.
“We are seeing a lot of people that are being taken into custody that have clean criminal records. No criminal record whatsoever. People that have been in the United States for many years. People that are in the process of obtaining their legal status. I don’t think this is something that is going to tail off anytime soon,” said Diego Gomez, an immigration attorney in West Palm Beach.
Another peaceful ICE protest is planned for Friday night October 24 from 7-9pm at U.S. 1 and Virginia Avenue in Ft. Pierce.
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