Construction workers from Latin America, employees of a local business, called Columbia County Sanctuary Movement’s (CCSM) helpline when approached by ICE on Wednesday morning, May 6 in Greenport. CCSM’s rapid response team showed up almost immediately and reminded the men that they did not have to open the door or window unless the agents had a judicial warrant.

The Times Union reported that “ICE agents must obtain warrants signed by a judge to enter a property or vehicle, conduct searches or make arrests. Administrative warrants issued by the federal government do not authorize agents to carry out searches or detentions.”

Bryan MacCormack, of CCSM, told the Times Union that “the agents never produced a warrant or showed paperwork to the driver or to advocates who tried to intervene during the roughly eight-minute encounter. Representatives for ICE did not immediately respond to questions.”

Read the Times Union story here. It includes approximately 90 seconds of video filmed by CCSM.

Photo courtesy of Columbia County Sanctuary Movement