“It’s a small community,” Immigrant advocacy group reacts to ICE activity in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Neb. (KLKN) – The Columbus Police Department alerted the public Thursday morning that Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be coming to town.

CPD posted to Facebook that ICE was ‘conducting an effort in the City of Columbus and Platte County Area,’ to contact individuals that have failed to comply with deportation orders.

Several hours later, an update was posted to indicate that one person was detained; a convicted sex offender.

Throughout the day, Channel 8 drove through the city of Columbus to speak with local residents.

Workers at nearby factories admitted to hearing the news of a potential ICE raid but did not see any activity themselves.

The city’s communications officer welcomed questions, but ultimately, was not able to facilitate an interview.

One organization with a strong connection to the immigrant community in Columbus, Centro Hispano, was willing to speak.

The group’s executive director, Abby Kreutz explained to Channel 8 what they do.

“We’re a non-profit organization here in Columbus and we really focus on supporting immigrants and their families, and entrepreneurs,” she said.

Doing this through advocacy, resources and accurate information, as to avoid confusion.

Kreutz says when she first heard the news, they decided to send a staffer out into the neighborhood.

“It’s a small community,” she said. “I want us to become a good source of information before we just spread things that are out there, and that we are able to verify it from what we’re seeing but also from trusted community members.”

Kreutz said her colleague described seeing a lot fewer Hispanos than what he may have seen before.

“There could still be that fear that people are just kind of laying low for a little bit right now until this passes. Again, just given uncertainty about what is actually happening,” she said.

Channel 8 witnessed much of the same.

One local worker, who only spoke Spanish, further confirmed through a translation app on her phone.

Typing the message, “We haven’t seen anything ourselves.”

Kreutz says that the police in the community help make everyone feel safe.

“From my understanding, most law enforcement agents do not want to create a community of fear, where people are afraid of law enforcement officers,” she said.