Protests erupt over Phoenix mother’s reported arrest following immigration check

PHOENIX — Protesters gathered at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in Phoenix on Wednesday night, after a Phoenix woman was allegedly taken into custody by federal officials following a routine immigration check.

The Los Angeles Times reported Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, 36, was taken into custody by ICE officials Wednesday morning after participating in her mandatory check-in.

The arrest sparked a large protest at the department’s field office in Phoenix, leading protesters to huddle around an ICE van that Garcia was placed in and chant phrases like, “Shame on you!” to prevent her deportation.

I'm outside @ICEgov office in Phoenix, where protesters have surrounded a van taking Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos to Mexico. pic.twitter.com/NClTpqtyGb

— Fernanda Santos (@fernandaNYT) February 9, 2017

The situation right now… #ICE #GuadalupeGarcia pic.twitter.com/UKDlHMMpEu

— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) February 9, 2017

The protesters went to extreme lengths to prevent Garcia’s deportation, even placing their bodies in front of the vehicle.

Incredible scene happening outside ICE headquarters in PHX@NBCNews pic.twitter.com/ybgZganhGr

— John Boxley (@JBoxleyNBC) February 9, 2017

Phoenix police arrested “about seven” people without force, according to a tweet.

About 7 arrests made without force. Everyone remains safe so far. Hoping for continued cooperation and no more criminal conduct.

— Phoenix Police (@phoenixpolice) February 9, 2017

Police tweeted that additional “arrests are imminent” after some protesters chose “criminal conduct instead of free speech.”

Officers are working to keep EVERONE safe including a scared group of people inside an ICE van being illegally blocked by some people

— Phoenix Police (@phoenixpolice) February 9, 2017

Garcia has been in the country illegally since she was 14 and had been considered a low priority for deportation by the Obama Administration.

She was arrested in 2008 during a workplace raid ordered by former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and was later convicted of felony identity theft for possessing false papers.

Despite her conviction, she was allowed to live in Arizona with her two children and checked in with ICE officials every six months.

But when Garcia, who worked at Mesa’s Golfland Sunsplash, arrived for her scheduled meeting she was arrested, the Times reported.

Immigration advocates, including Puente Arizona Director Carlos Garcia, pointed to the incident as a direct reflection of the severity of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

“We all knew something could be different this time with the new administration,” Garcia said in an interview with the Times. “She went in with the lawyer and didn’t come out. That was pretty much all there was.”

I remember seeing these protests when I got to AZ in 2012,m bc of Arpaio. An activist told me today, "W/ Trump, we're back where we started"

— Fernanda Santos (@fernandaNYT) February 9, 2017

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