ICE agents conducted a raid at a South Florida construction site on Friday last week, leading to the detainment of a worker. The contractor, Jeb Shafer of Shafer Construction, witnessed the raid in Wilton Manors, where one of his workers, who had lived in the U.S. for 15 years, was handcuffed and taken away. Another subcontractor was questioned and pressed against a wall by agents, according to CBS News.
Shafer expressed his shock, saying, "They're like family to you, so it’s upsetting to see that," in a statement obtained by CBS News. After the incident, Shafer sent his crew home, unable to work due to the anxiety caused by the situation. Video footage shows Shafer trying to intervene, hand over personal items for the detained worker, and manage the escalating situation. Another video documented a worker being pushed against a door by agents after offering legal advice to the detained man.
The worker told NBC Miami, "He tried to get his phone, so another officer, he start, 'Listen, listen, don’t move, because if you start moving, I’m going to punch you, I will push you.’ That’s when he pushed me and then put me to the wall."
Immigration attorney Angel Leal discussed the legal rights of individuals during such encounters, highlighting the need for a warrant signed by a judge or magistrate. Leal said, "If they do not have a warrant signed by a magistrate or a judge, you do not have to let them in," in the CBS News report.
The Wilton Manors Police Department provided support at ICE's request but did not oversee the federal actions. The department emphasized its focus on local issues. Despite the turmoil, Shafer hopes to learn how to handle similar situations in the future. He said, "I feel for the families affected by this. I just want to understand what happened and make sure I'm prepared moving forward," as per CBS News.
