Residents of southeastern Omaha are reeling after a recent raid conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that has sparked widespread protests and raised concerns about immigration enforcement in the area. The raid occurred on the day of Omaha Mayor John Ewing’s inauguration. This action heightened divisions in the community.
The 2020 census shows that almost a fourth of the people living in this area were born outside the US. Their contribution makes the neighborhood one of the most diverse in the country. Hundreds of neighbors showed up on Tuesday night to peacefully march against the raid. Fired up, they raised their voices to express their anguish and rage over the implications of our immigration agenda. In the days after, we saw some local businesses still closed as the community continued to contend with what this ICE operation entailed.
Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chairman Roger Garcia now represents the south Omaha district. His criticisms came after he learned that his wife’s aunt was one of the people arrested and taken in during the surprise raid. “Everybody’s still on edge, waiting to see what’s going to happen today and the next few days,” he told the outlet, reflecting the anxiety that hangs over the community.
The ICE raid is an example of a larger trend of increased immigration enforcement that has been pervasive since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s administration. Over the past few weeks, Trump has stepped up his actions to fight immigration across the country. This has included deploying more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to respond to protests in Los Angeles linked to similar immigration policies.
In Omaha, local law enforcement officials filed and won a lawsuit against federal DBP law enforcement authorities to keep themselves separate from federal immigration enforcement. In a statement, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmader made clear his department’s priorities of protecting the public—not deporting immigrants. “That is not our mission. Our mission is public safety,” he remarked, adding, “I need victims to come forward. Otherwise, they won’t step forward if they’re afraid of the Omaha Police Department suddenly becoming immigration agents.”
Glenn Valley, the company that was raided, maintained their compliance with government standards. Indirectly, this is what they did when they used the E-Verify system to ensure that their workers were legal. Federal officials have condemned this system as “broken” and “flawed.” They have been raising serious questions about its effectiveness, if any, in preventing illegal employment.
The most egregious episode during the raid that received public condemnation was the arrest of a Honduran worker who attacked federal agents while in federal custody. This episode is an example of the increased ire around ICE’s activities and their effect on police–community relations.
Local residents are dealing with the immediate consequences of the raid. Many are deeply concerned that it poses serious threats to the future of local businesses and public eroded trust. As one frustrated community member put it, “When products aren’t delivered, taxes aren’t collected. That’s not just hurting the delivery person, it’s hurting you and everybody who can’t get their products.”
Mayor John Ewing addressed the community’s concerns by stating, “My message to the public is that we are with them.” Understandably, leaders are eager to lead in difficult situations where immigration enforcement is concerned. At the same time, they want to maintain a feeling of security and community character.
