Witnesses say federal agents didn't show warrant during San Jose nonprofit arrest
Immigration detainment of man at SJ non-profit roils community, elected leaders
Community leaders and elected leaders in the South Bay held a news conference on Wednesday to decry actions by federal agents who detained a man at a San Jose non-profit.
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The arrest of an undocumented man inside a San Jose nonprofit has stirred concern among community members and local leaders.
Surveillance video from inside ConXión to Community on Tuesday shows the man standing inside the organization’s classroom when at least one federal immigration officer entered, grabbed him, and whisked him out.
The arrest has intensified demands for the city to pass an ordinance requiring law enforcement officers to show their faces and visible identification before detaining anyone.
Staff at ConXión, which provides education and workforce training, said fewer people are seeking services out of fear they could be targeted by immigration agents.
Community leaders denounce arrest
What they're saying:
Video of the arrest sparked outrage across the South Bay.
"This just devastated all of us and all of the other clients," said ConXión executive director Rose Amador-LeBeau. She said the nonprofit, founded 48 years ago, was created to help day laborers find jobs and build skills.
Witnesses said the man was detained without being shown a warrant or identification from federal agents.
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"Our community is under attack. And right now we need, more than ever, to be unified," said San Jose District 8 Councilmember Domingo Candelas.
Sean Allen of NAACP Silicon Valley added,"This isn’t an isolated event. It represents a broader pattern that instills fear in our neighborhoods."
Legal questions raised
Big picture view:
Immigration law expert Professor Evangeline Abriel said the arrest could face legal challenges.
"You can’t enter into what looks like a private place without some sort of judicial warrant, and there’s no indication that’s what they had," Abriel said.
Nonprofit tightens security
What's next:
Amador-LeBeau said ConXión is making changes, including locking outside doors, to prevent anyone, including federal agents, from entering without authorization.
It remains unclear what happened to the man who was detained or why he was apprehended.
The Source: ConXión to Community, along with San Jose community leaders.