By Ted Hesson and Suheir Sheikh
WASHINGTON (Muara Digital Team) – When U.S. immigration officials came to arrest a Salvadoran man in Mount Pleasant, an area in Washington with a significant Hispanic immigrant community, locals notified others, and people gathered at the location, shouting at the officers to leave before the man was taken away.
When Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained a Guatemalan man on Monday while he was using a crutch and claimed he had no criminal history in the nearby Petworth neighborhood, which has a large Hispanic community, individuals on their way to work and walking pets began shouting at the officers. Following a confrontation with demonstrators, the agents let the man go.
Arrests similar to the two observed by the Muara Digital Team are growing more frequent in the country’s capital, as reported by immigration activists and locals, who claim the operations are creating suspicion among certain community members.
For many years, Mount Pleasant has served as a home for immigrants from El Salvador and other Central American nations, who have established restaurants and businesses despite the neighborhood’s ongoing gentrification. In 1991, unrest occurred in the area when a D.C. police officer shot a man of Salvadoran descent. Close by, Petworth, a quiet residential district, is also known for its significant Hispanic community.
NEIGHBORS ON ALERT
President Donald Trump initiated a strong immigration enforcement effort upon taking office in January, supported by his Republican supporters. However, as Trump increased arrests—many involving individuals without criminal records—public backing for his immigration policies has declined, according to polls by Muara Digital Team/Ipsos.
Trump announced a “crime emergency” in Washington in August. While the order did not directly address immigration, ICE and other federal authorities have frequently been seen in neighborhoods with the largest Latino communities. Following the federalization of Washington’s police force for 30 days in August, Trump stated on Monday that he plans to repeat the action if the city does not cooperate with immigration enforcement efforts.
The Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, composed of local groups and individuals, reported experiencing an unprecedented level of immigration enforcement, fueled by extensive racial profiling.
“Anyone who appears Black or brown, or seems like they could be immigrants, is being stopped,” said Amy Fischer, a member of the organization.
This month, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that had stopped immigration arrests relying only on race, ethnicity, location, or other criteria in the Los Angeles region, enabling ICE and Border Patrol to continue their strong enforcement methods.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that Trump’s efforts against crime focused on all offenders, irrespective of their immigration status, and that claims of racial profiling were intended to “defame law enforcement officers.”
“Many undocumented immigrants apprehended during targeted enforcement actions have active warrants or previous convictions for severe crimes such as murder, assault, rape, and child sexual abuse,” Jackson stated.
On August 28, many residents in Washington’s Mount Pleasant area demonstrated as ICE agents arrested the man. A young woman, recognized by U.S. officials as his daughter, cried at the location.
Like in other areas of the United States, some people living in Mount Pleasant use messaging groups to notify their neighbors about the appearance of ICE or other federal officials.
I’ve been living here for 10 years, and I’ve never felt this unsafe,” stated Kris King, a yoga teacher. “The tension is extremely high.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that the individual was in the country without proper authorization and urged others in similar circumstances “to voluntarily leave the U.S. immediately.”
Tricia McLaughlin, a representative from the Department of Homeland Security, stated: “Anyone residing in the U.S. legally has no reason to be concerned.”
She mentioned that a Guatemalan man from Petworth was taken into custody during a traffic stop that included Washington police and ICE officers, and she confirmed the man was later set free.
VIBRANT AREAS GONE QUIET
In Columbia Heights, a neighborhood famous for its traditional Salvadoran corn dishes called “pupusas” and street vendors offering fresh juice and horchata, a cold rice-based drink, local residents have united to oppose immigration arrests—even when these operations involve other law enforcement agencies.
When the U.S. Marshals Service, local police, and ICE officers raided an apartment complex early last week in search of a missing 13-year-old girl, a group of onlookers soon assembled, recording the scene on their phones and exchanging details.
Yessica Gonzalez, 24, was outside sending messages to her mother, who does not have legal immigration status and remained inside her apartment until the officials departed.
“She is extremely frightened,” noted Gonzalez, who serves as a manager at a fast-food establishment.
McLaughlin mentioned that agents rescued a missing girl from a residence linked to “multiple members” of the Salvadoran-American criminal group MS-13. ICE detained a 17-year-old suspected MS-13 gang member and another individual from El Salvador, she stated.
As the officers departed the area, onlookers yelled “Gestapo” at them. A little while later, neighbors assisted a young boy in a Mickey Mouse shirt and backpack in walking to school.
Nelvin Rodriguez, a 54-year-old contractor living in the area, mentioned that local restaurants and other businesses that cater to Spanish-speaking immigrants have experienced difficulties as individuals remained at home due to fear of ICE.
They prefer to stay home and not go to work or do shopping,” said Rodriguez, who moved to the U.S. from Honduras 20 years ago and is a permanent resident. “We don’t feel safe, simply because we are Latino.
(Produced by Ted Hesson and Suheir Sheikh; Additional contributions from Liza Feria; Edited by Mary Milliken and Suzanne Goldenberg)
