As the man who appeared to be handcuffs is led out of the bakery, Saenz can be heard asking in Spanish what his name is. The man says, then shouts what sounds to be his first and last name before he is marched around the back of the car, parked on Main Street, and placed in the back on the passenger side.
EAST CHICAGO — Two men wearing police vests and black face masks took a man in handcuffs from the foyer of an East Chicago bakery Thursday and placed him in an unmarked silver car, video taken by the bakery's owner and verified by The Times shows.
The East Chicago Police Department officials said to The Times they believed the operation was conducted by federal immigration authorities.
"The East Chicago Police Department was not involved in the incident that occurred this morning at La Rancherita Bakery," chief Jose Rivera said in an email to The Times.
Rivera said his department was aware of the video, which has already circulated around social media. East Chicago police have no authority over federal agents, he said.
In a joint statement with Mayor Anthony Copeland, Rivera said the department remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of residents.
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"Our department is here to serve and support the community — not to participate in immigration enforcement," Rivera said.
Susana Saenz, owner of La Rancherita Bakery, located at 3811 Main St., said she heard commotion in the entryway of the business at approximately 11:50 a.m. She went over from the counter to investigate and saw a man who appeared to be under arrest with two men who looked like police.
Saenz said she did not recognize the man who appeared to have been arrested. He did not work at the bakery, was not a regular customer and was not even shopping in the establishment on Thursday.
Saenz said she started recording a video on her phone. In her video, a man wearing a hat, black shirt, jeans and green or turquoise Nike shoes is leaning against a wall with his hands behind his back and appears to be struggling with one of the men, dressed in a camouflage vest that says "POLICE" on the back and carrying a firearm holstered to his right hip. His face is partially covered by a black balaclava.
The second man who appears to be some form of law enforcement is wearing a similar but different vest that says "POLICE" on the back, dark sunglasses and a black face covering. He is also armed.
As the man who appeared to be in handcuffs is led out of the bakery, Saenz can be heard asking in Spanish what his name is. The man says, then shouts what sounds to be his first and last name before he is marched around the back of the car, parked on Main Street, and placed in the back on the passenger side.
According to the joint statement, the East Chicago Mayor's Office received confirmation of the presence of federal immigration agents staging in publicly accessible portions of the department's parking lot at 2301 E. Columbus Dr., in East Chicago. Videos circulating social media show masked officers who appear to be making an arrest.
"The East Chicago Police Department is not involved in any operations with ICE. We have not coordinated, supported, or participated in any immigration enforcement actions, and no information has been shared with ICE regarding such matters. Our department's parking facility is open to the public and may occasionally be used by other law enforcement entities," the mayor's office wrote. "However, their presence does not indicate cooperation or endorsement."
"Today will be remembered as the day that tested my resolve," Copeland said in the statement. "The lack of prior notification from ICE was troubling, but I understand that federal agencies are not required to inform local governments of their presence. I urge our residents to remain calm and not engage with ICE agents, either verbally or physically. We are actively working through law enforcement channels to understand and contain this action."
Earlier on Thursday, armed agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement department were "staging an operation" early Thursday in the parking lot of the city's police department, which triggered quick backlash from Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.
"Let me be clear: Hammond does not have any agreements or partnerships with ICE that authorize them to use our city’s facilities or property for their operations," McDermott said in a prepared statement.
"It is deeply concerning that federal agents would enter and use Hammond’s property without permission — especially when the Federal Courthouse is located just one block west of our police headquarters," he said.
City officials informed the ICE agents they were not authorized to stage operations on city property, according to the mayor. The agents reportedly complied and relocated their operation elsewhere in the city, he said.
State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said in a press release Thursday afternoon that he "can’t view these ICE raids as anything other than un-American."
Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, said in the joint press release with Harris, she was "deeply worried" to see ICE use Hammond property to set up what she called its "terror operation."
“I am thankful to Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott for promptly making the public aware that ICE is present in the city and making sure they are not permitted to use Hammond facilities to intimidate members of our community," Jackson said.
"Innocent men, women and children are being treated like violent criminals simply because of their appearance. I am devastated for all of the people in my community fearing for their safety and the safety of their friends and families," Jackson said.
It wasn't the first ICE visit to the Region.
McDermott said earlier this month on his “Left of Center” podcast that ICE has been spotted in the city in recent weeks taking into custody specific individuals suspected of lacking legal status to remain in the United States.
