Multiple videos circulating social media on Thursday, Oct. 9 show masked officers who appear to be U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting people in East Chicago.
Susana Saenz, owner of La Rancherita Bakery, located at 3811 Main St., told The Times 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 recorded the encounter between a man who entered the business and two other men wearing vests with "POLICE" labels on the back. East Chicago Police Chief Jose Rivera told The Times in an email his department was aware of the video and said the operation was conducted by ICE.
East Chicago Police and the mayor's office released a written statement on Thursday confirming the presence of suspected federal immigration agents. They said the ICE officers used the police department parking lot, 2301 E. Columbus Dr., without warning or notification to city officials.
People are also reading…
Video taken by Kevin Mejia and shared with The Times appears to show a man, with his wrists either handcuffed or zip tied in front of his body, being patted down by an officer as several other men surround him and look on.
