Anti Federalist
06-20-2011, 11:35 AM
The money quote:
“But these are the people that are supposed to be protecting us — they’re not supposed to be terrifying us,” she said. “The amount of force that was used was outrageous.”
Answers remain elusive in Davis ICE raid
http://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/crime-fire-courts/answers-remain-elusive-in-davis-ice-raid/
A Davis woman whose Oak Avenue rental home was raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — an incident she said terrified the residents — continues to pursue answers regarding the agency’s actions that spring morning.
http://davisenterprise.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/immigrationW.jpg
Linda Clark looks at damage caused to a door at her rental property in Davis, which was raided last month by officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo
In an op-ed piece that was published in The Enterprise last month, Linda Clark wrote that agents burst into the home shortly after 6 a.m. April 26 seeking evidence related to a child pornography website allegedly viewed at the house more than a year ago — long before the current residents, including Clark’s grandson and several visiting UC Davis scholars, lived there.
“I don’t have a quibble with them searching, or what they’re searching for,” Clark said last week at her home, which sits next door to the rental property.
“But these are the people that are supposed to be protecting us — they’re not supposed to be terrifying us,” she said. “The amount of force that was used was outrageous.”
Clark has since filed a formal complaint with ICE, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
ICE’s public affairs office released a statement this week through Rep. Mike Thompson’s office confirming that its agents served a federal search warrant “in conjunction with an ongoing criminal investigation involving child pornography.”
“Because that investigation is continuing, we are not at liberty to disclose further details about the case at this time. However, ICE is aware of allegations made by the property owner regarding agents’ actions during that enforcement operation,” the statement says.
“ICE takes all allegations of officer misconduct seriously. The circumstances surrounding this enforcement action are currently under review by ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility.”
Clark’s grandson, 19-year-old Tylor Murray-Clark, said anywhere from eight to a dozen ICE agents cuffed, searched and interrogated the residents, some of whom had a limited grasp of English, for several hours.
“The whole situation was ridiculously out of proportion,” Murray-Clark said. The Sacramento City College student said the agents verbally informed him of the search warrant as they cuffed him, but didn’t show him the document until the residents had been questioned.
A female Vietnamese scholar who was several months pregnant suffered a miscarriage three days later, according to Clark, and the roommates were left shaken and nervous.
In addition to the use of force, Clark questions the federal agency’s execution of the warrant — which was valid until May 9 — just a day after it was signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan.
“They had ample time to research who was (living) in the house,” Clark said.
The incident led to a meeting last month among UCD and ICE officials, as well as a representative of the Vietnamese Consulate.
“ICE agreed to coordinate with UC Davis police about future ICE actions in the city of Davis in order to avoid disturbing individuals who are not the focus of their investigation,” UCD spokesman Andy Fell said.
The Yolo County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union also may weigh in.
Natalie Wormeli, the chapter’s president, said the ACLU hopes to meet with representatives of ICE or Homeland Security “and let them know of the community’s concerns.”
“We want to know what their procedures are and if they were properly followed,” Wormeli said. “Certainly, the Fourth Amendment issues concern us.”
Davis city officials, meanwhile, say there is little they can do in response to the incident.
“The reports of what occurred are very disturbing and disappointing. That any visitor to our community or citizen would be treated in this way is patently unnecessary,” Mayor Joe Krovoza said. “This is, however, a matter of federal law enforcement’s action. Neither the city or the state has a role here.”
However, Krovoza said the city has offered the services of its ombudsman, Bob Aaronson, to assist Clark or her tenants “to help them understand the appropriate ways that a complaint against the agents or ICE might be pursued. I don’t see more of a role for the city at this time, but we will continue to monitor the issue.”
Davis Police Chief Landy Black agreed that the city is unlikely to get involved in the matter. He said while ICE notified his agency several days in advance of their plans to search the Oak Avenue home, local police were not asked to assist.
“We were aware of it, as is the normal protocol,” Black said. “The federal government has ultimate authority — it supersedes and exceeds ours.”
Clark, meanwhile, continues to wait for answers. She said she’s prepared to keep fighting until she gets them.
“If people don’t complain, nothing happens,” she said. “So I’m screaming at whoever I can get to listen.”
“But these are the people that are supposed to be protecting us — they’re not supposed to be terrifying us,” she said. “The amount of force that was used was outrageous.”
Answers remain elusive in Davis ICE raid
http://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/crime-fire-courts/answers-remain-elusive-in-davis-ice-raid/
A Davis woman whose Oak Avenue rental home was raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — an incident she said terrified the residents — continues to pursue answers regarding the agency’s actions that spring morning.
http://davisenterprise.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/immigrationW.jpg
Linda Clark looks at damage caused to a door at her rental property in Davis, which was raided last month by officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo
In an op-ed piece that was published in The Enterprise last month, Linda Clark wrote that agents burst into the home shortly after 6 a.m. April 26 seeking evidence related to a child pornography website allegedly viewed at the house more than a year ago — long before the current residents, including Clark’s grandson and several visiting UC Davis scholars, lived there.
“I don’t have a quibble with them searching, or what they’re searching for,” Clark said last week at her home, which sits next door to the rental property.
“But these are the people that are supposed to be protecting us — they’re not supposed to be terrifying us,” she said. “The amount of force that was used was outrageous.”
Clark has since filed a formal complaint with ICE, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
ICE’s public affairs office released a statement this week through Rep. Mike Thompson’s office confirming that its agents served a federal search warrant “in conjunction with an ongoing criminal investigation involving child pornography.”
“Because that investigation is continuing, we are not at liberty to disclose further details about the case at this time. However, ICE is aware of allegations made by the property owner regarding agents’ actions during that enforcement operation,” the statement says.
“ICE takes all allegations of officer misconduct seriously. The circumstances surrounding this enforcement action are currently under review by ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility.”
Clark’s grandson, 19-year-old Tylor Murray-Clark, said anywhere from eight to a dozen ICE agents cuffed, searched and interrogated the residents, some of whom had a limited grasp of English, for several hours.
“The whole situation was ridiculously out of proportion,” Murray-Clark said. The Sacramento City College student said the agents verbally informed him of the search warrant as they cuffed him, but didn’t show him the document until the residents had been questioned.
A female Vietnamese scholar who was several months pregnant suffered a miscarriage three days later, according to Clark, and the roommates were left shaken and nervous.
In addition to the use of force, Clark questions the federal agency’s execution of the warrant — which was valid until May 9 — just a day after it was signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan.
“They had ample time to research who was (living) in the house,” Clark said.
The incident led to a meeting last month among UCD and ICE officials, as well as a representative of the Vietnamese Consulate.
“ICE agreed to coordinate with UC Davis police about future ICE actions in the city of Davis in order to avoid disturbing individuals who are not the focus of their investigation,” UCD spokesman Andy Fell said.
The Yolo County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union also may weigh in.
Natalie Wormeli, the chapter’s president, said the ACLU hopes to meet with representatives of ICE or Homeland Security “and let them know of the community’s concerns.”
“We want to know what their procedures are and if they were properly followed,” Wormeli said. “Certainly, the Fourth Amendment issues concern us.”
Davis city officials, meanwhile, say there is little they can do in response to the incident.
“The reports of what occurred are very disturbing and disappointing. That any visitor to our community or citizen would be treated in this way is patently unnecessary,” Mayor Joe Krovoza said. “This is, however, a matter of federal law enforcement’s action. Neither the city or the state has a role here.”
However, Krovoza said the city has offered the services of its ombudsman, Bob Aaronson, to assist Clark or her tenants “to help them understand the appropriate ways that a complaint against the agents or ICE might be pursued. I don’t see more of a role for the city at this time, but we will continue to monitor the issue.”
Davis Police Chief Landy Black agreed that the city is unlikely to get involved in the matter. He said while ICE notified his agency several days in advance of their plans to search the Oak Avenue home, local police were not asked to assist.
“We were aware of it, as is the normal protocol,” Black said. “The federal government has ultimate authority — it supersedes and exceeds ours.”
Clark, meanwhile, continues to wait for answers. She said she’s prepared to keep fighting until she gets them.
“If people don’t complain, nothing happens,” she said. “So I’m screaming at whoever I can get to listen.”