A Cuban alerted about the presence of agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the area where immigrants go to have their fingerprints taken in Tampa, Florida.
The man and his friend were in a barbershop when they witnessed the arrest of a woman in front of the application plaza located on Gunn Highway.
The testimony was shared on January 2 by the TikTok user @alex6isl_. One can sense the anguish in the voice of the detainee when the alleged ICE agents, dressed in plain clothes and in a blue car with Florida plates, intercepted her after she completed her fingerprinting process at the state office.
"That is abuse towards a woman, they don't even identify themselves or anything. It's abuse", can be heard saying the witness and his colleague in the video, while they film the operation.
According to the account, the agents were waiting outside the building for the people arriving for their appointment.
“They are ICE and they are hunting. It seems they were waiting for someone there to catch them. Undocumented immigrants have to be very careful, try to enter the offices and leave just as quickly, leave fast”, warned the Cuban in the recording.
The man, visibly upset, expressed his helplessness at being unable to intervene to help the woman and prevent the arrest.
I have my hands shaking from not being able to do anything, he said as he pointed to the vehicle where, he claims, they detained the immigrant.
ICE has not issued an official statement regarding this operation or the arrest recorded in the video. However, the incident has raised concerns among Cuban and Latin American immigrants who frequent the application plaza in Tampa.
Several users on social media commented on the post that has surpassed 2 million views. The immigrant community in Florida is urging individuals to take extra precautions when attending immigration appointments, to not resist arrest, and to seek legal advice if they have ongoing cases.
Tips for Immigrants in Florida
- Avoid sharing personal information with strangers around immigration offices.
- Attend appointments accompanied, when possible.
- Consult with an immigration attorney before appearing if there is a pending order.
- Follow reliable sources and local community organizations for updated alerts.
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