Grand Rapids community demands answers after man detained by ICE скачать в хорошем качестве

Grand Rapids community demands answers after man detained by ICE

Community members and immigrant rights advocates gathered Monday at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids to demand transparency and accountability following the Feb. 3 detention of Ecuadorian native, Byron Martinez, by federal immigration agents. At the center of their concerns, what legal authority was used to detain Martinez and whether local law enforcement followed proper procedures if they assisted. Movimiento Cosecha, GR Rapid Response to ICE and other Southwest Michigan coalitions organized the press conference. Family members, faith leaders and Martinez’s immigration attorney addressed reporters, pointing to recorded video of the arrest that they say raises serious questions. The footage, recorded during Martinez’s detention in Grand Rapids, shows several officers surrounding him and holding him down in the snow as voices can be heard shouting commands. Martinez’s attorney, Richard Kessler, said his client told him officers pushed his face into the snow and that he repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.” Kessler said Martinez, 28, entered the United States in 2023 without authorization, fearing violence in his native country of Ecuador. He said Martinez applied for asylum upon arriving in Grand Rapids and has been complying with immigration requirements for the past two years. “We will be defending Byron in his immigration court vigorously,” Kessler said. He added that his legal team plans to file a habeas corpus action seeking a bond hearing, arguing recent changes in federal policy have limited bond eligibility for some detainees. Organizers said Martinez was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, reportedly in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Grand Rapids Police Department. Kessler said Martinez told him he heard someone say “GRPD is on the way,” raising questions about whether city police assisted in the arrest. News Channel 3 reached out to ICE and the Grand Rapids Police Department with the following questions: What was the legal basis for Martinez’s detention? Did officers have a warrant, and if so, what type? What role, if any, did GRPD play? Was force used, and does it align with department policy? Will body camera video be reviewed or released? As of publication, ICE had not responded. GRPD provided this statement: GRPD responded to provide crowd control at the request of a federal agency (not ICE) making an arrest. We provided aid to create safety and order for all involved parties and bystanders. As per policy, GRPD did not coordinate, participate, or otherwise involve themselves with the mission of the federal agency, nor aid in the apprehension of the suspect. Officials from the department also said GRPD body cameras were reviewed by the on scene supervisor to ensure GRPD personnel abided by all state and local laws and department policy. Advocates with Movimiento Cosecha, a national organization advocating for undocumented immigrants, said the video underscores why they are demanding transparency. “Our community is on edge,” one speaker said. “We demand transparency, and we demand that our local government stands with the community.” Martinez is currently being held at North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan. Supporters described him as a devoted animal lover who enjoys Ecuadorian music and dancing. They have launched an online petition calling for his release. https://wwmt.com/news/local/byron-mar... _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WWMT on Facebook:   / wwmtnews   WWMT on Twitter:   / wwmtnews   Subscribe to WWMT on YouTube:    / @wwmtnews   WWMT Daily News Digest:    • WWMT-TV Daily Digest   For more information, visit https://www.wwmt.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: desk@wwmt.com Call the Newsroom: 800.875.3333 WWMT is a MI based station and a CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #WWMT #NEWSCHANNEL3 #Kalamazoo #Michigan #PrincessJhanéStepherson #ICE #GrandRapids #Immigration #Communityleaders #accountability