A video shows Staten Island residents clashing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after at least one immigrant was taken into custody.

What You Need To Know

Jessica Vigueras, a Staten Island resident, says she heard a commotion on the street and saw eight or nine U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents questioning immigrants

NY1 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for an interview and statement, but hasn’t heard back yet

Vigueras says the immigrant who was detained inside the bodega will be in court on Dec. 18 and may be deported to his native Mexico

“This is home for them, and that’s the sad part,” said Jessica Vigueras, who took cellphone video of the altercation that happened Thursday afternoon inside a bodega in Port Richmond.  

She says she heard some commotion outside and ran up the block. That’s where she saw eight or nine ICE agents questioning immigrants.

“They didn’t come with warrants. They didn’t come with papers. They just came and said, ‘What’s your name? What’s your legal status?’ I find it completely not right. I understand if they want to get criminals out, but that’s not the way,” said Vigueras, who is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who own a bakery next to the bodega where the ICE arrests took place.

Vigueras, who was one of several bystanders who attempted to stop the arrest, says the entire community is scared to leave their homes now.

“Why should they have to run? Why? They’re not criminals. They’re just getting food to go home and cook for their families,” she said.

An agent can be seen taking out his taser, but Vigueras says that didn’t stop the crowd from going after the agents.

“We chased them until they got in their cars and we made them leave,” she said.

Vigueras’ mother, who has lived in the city for 33 years, says this recent uptick in ICE raids keeps her up at night.

“It makes me [cry] all the time, they make me scared, sometimes I can’t even sleep all night. I wake up at 2 o’clock in the morning,” Laura Gutiérrez said. “I can’t explain to you. I can’t. It’s very sad. Very, very sad.”

Vigueras says she is deeply concerned for her family and community, and she believes immigrants should not be targeted.

“At the end of the day, whether people like it or not, immigrants make this country. Immigrants are the ones who are making people’s food. Immigrants are the ones who are [at] the back. And it’s sad that we have to go through this because at the end of the day, we’re hardworking people. It’s not like we’re stealing anything or taking anything from anybody,” she said.

NY1 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for an interview and statement, but hasn’t heard back yet.