BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Four individuals were arrested by ICE and other federal agents on Thursday morning in Buffalo as part of what ICE called an "ongoing investigation."
ICE officials said the four people tried to use "evasive maneuvers" to get away from the agents.
"They were ultimately safely taken into custody and detained at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, New York," a spokesperson said.
We've learned the names of the four arrested:
- Manuel Gonzalez De Leon, 33, from Mexico
- Luciano Ramirez-Garcia, 30, from Mexico
- Vicente Hernandez-Velasquez, from Guatemala
- Geronimo Gilber-Misael, 27, from Guatemala
We have learned that the four arrested were workers at Aguacates, a restaurant on Elmwood Avenue. An ICE spokesperson said the four were in the United States illegally.
"ICE remains committed to protecting the rights of workers and upholding U.S. laws, including by identifying and addressing exploitation in the workplace, ensuring compliance with labor and immigration laws, and safeguarding the integrity of our nation's workforce," that ICE spokesperson said.
WATCH: Four individuals arrested during ICE operation on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo
The same restaurant was raided nine years ago, along with three other Mexican restaurants across Western New York, when it was called Agave and under different ownership.
Jennifer Connor of Justice for Migrant Families, which advocates for immigrants here in the Buffalo area, said those raids were what started her organization.
"This happened at the same establishment, in fact, and my organization was born out of our community response to that event," she said.
But a lot has changed since then, she said.
"Things that existed nine years ago don't exist now, like bonds," she said. "People are being penalized and targeted and forced through the immigration system, really forced into voluntary departure by bad conditions in a way that have increased from nine years ago."
"We are dependent upon workers in our community," she said of immigrants of all kinds in the U.S. "That's just kind of a reality. So I hope that on a practical level, people understand that. I hope, on a neighbor-to-neighbor level, people understand these are like our neighbors."
In a post on Facebook, NYS Assemblyman Jon Rivera said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted what he called an "aggressive operation."
"This is an area of our city that thrives because of its diversity," Rivera said in his post. "It is a neighborhood where people from around the world come together, start businesses, raise families, and strengthen the fabric of Buffalo. What happened today was not just an enforcement action, it was a direct attack on the values and identity of this community."
A rally was held Thursday night outside the restaurant, calling for ICE to stay out of Buffalo.
