Local immigrant rights groups are on red alert today after receiving a call via a “rapid response network” hotline reporting that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are in the area and have detained a man in Bayside.

“We know one member of our community was detained,” said Brenda Perez, a member of Centro del Pueblo and advocate for a Humboldt County sanctuary law, which would prevent local law enforcement from working with ICE on immigration enforcement arrests.

Perez said local farmers’ union employees witnessed today’s detention, which took place shortly before 10 a.m. Centro del Pueblo is asking observers to report any sightings of ICE agents, and Perez said she and others hope to inform members of local immigrant communities of their rights, including the right to remain silent.

ICE spokesman Richard Rocha told the Outpost this afternoon that with the limited information reported thus far he could neither confirm nor deny ICE’s involvement in this morning’s alleged detention. 

“ICE conducts routine, targeted enforcement operations throughout the country every day,” Rocha said. Arrests can be related to either criminal investigations or Homeland Security immigration enforcement, he said.

We’ll update if we’re able to get more information on today’s activities. 

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CORRECTION: The “rapid response hotline” referenced in this story is run by the True North Organizing Network.