READING, Pa. – Officials in Berks County are issuing statements about misinformation and panic following a day of false reports about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the area on social media. Reading’s mayor says a video that claimed to show ICE agents was actually the sheriff’s office serving a warrant.
After a video sparked panic claiming ICE agents were in the Reading area, officials are asking people to stay calm and verify information.
In a statement, Mayor Eddie Moran said he wanted to address misinformation on social media: “The video currently being shared shows the Berks County Sheriff’s Office serving a warrant. City officials confirmed directly with the Sheriff’s Office that this was not ICE activity.”
Moran and the CEO of Centro Hispano, Michael Toledo, say misinformation creates unnecessary fear and confusion.
One Wyomissing resident said it’s time for the county to rethink its cooperation with ICE.
“The anxiety level is high in the community, and we don’t want that,” Toledo said. “We need the temperature to come down. And again, as long as we’re sharing accurate information, and we’re educating the community on what to do and how to respond if there is any kind of immigration enforcement, I think that’s best for the community as a whole.”
When false reports started circulating on social media Wednesday, Toledo said his organization tried to help clarify information.
“We did a video from the Hispanic Center’s Facebook page to confirm that that was not ICE here,” he said. “It was a sheriff’s activity that was pursuing someone; it was not ICE.”
If ICE comes to the area, Toledo says Centro Hispano will share verified details.
“We’ll be putting information out on our social media platform as well, just to make sure that the community is educated on what to do, the steps to take if, in fact, they do see or there’s a immigration activity taking place, so that they make sure that we’re acting and doing the right thing,” Toledo said.
Reading’s mayor is also reminding everyone that city police do not enforce federal immigration law.