HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 12 undocumented immigrants in recent raids at worksites on the South Texas border, the agency said Tuesday.
The 12 immigrants were arrested Monday at two businesses located in Harlingen and San Benito, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, an ICE official said in a statement.
The immigrants were from Mexico and El Salvador and are currently pending removal proceedings from the United States.
One woman who was arrested allegedly assaulted a special agent and faces two counts of assault on a federal officer, ICE says.
The raids were conducted by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
An ICE spokesperson defended the enforcement operations saying all of their operations are the result of real evidence of illegal activity, such as human trafficking, money laundering and fraud.
The raids come as several days of protests have been held in Los Angeles that have spread to other U.S. cities by those opposing ICE arrests.
In a statement, the agency said Tuesday that ICE is “aware of concerns circulating throughout South Texas regarding reports of widespread immigration raids. We want to assure the community that these rumors are often exaggerated and can cause unnecessary panic. ICE Homeland Security Investigations conducts enforcement operations based on credible evidence — not indiscriminate or widespread raids.”
The agency urges the public to rely on credible and official sources for information.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
