An immigrant who reportedly had been living in the US legally for years was detained by ICE agents outside their Ohio home and threatened with deportation, according to an attorney.
The man's attorney, Inna Simakovsky, said she was contacted by his daughter after he was confronted and arrested near his home in Columbus before being taken to jail, WBNS-TV reported.
"His family tried to show immigration here's his work permit. Here's immigration paperwork," Simakovsky told the outlet. "He was told that he has a week to get his affairs in order and then he would be deported to Mexico."
However, the attorney said that the man had been in the US legally on a "U visa," which can be given to victims of certain crimes who may also be able to help law enforcement with criminal investigations.
The man ended up being released Monday evening from Geauga County Jail after being held for several hours.
As of Monday, more than 50 individuals detained by ICE were being held in the Geauga County Safety Center, where detainees are held until they receive their court hearing, as reported by FOX 8.
Columbus City Council officials have spoken out against the mass deportations taking place across the country, noting that fear of being possibly detained is preventing people from visiting businesses and contributing to the economy.
"I think that it is disruptive to communities, I think it's disruptive to families, it's disruptive to our local economy. It is not the way to figure out how we fix a broken system," Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, a council member and daughter of Cuban immigrants, told Spectrum News.
More than 3,500 undocumented individuals have been arrested across the country since President Donald Trump took office, as part of his campaign promise to conduct "mass deportations." The pledge has been criticized by immigration rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers.
Originally published on Latin Times
