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Federal agents conducted an operation in San Juan’s Barrio Obrero on Sunday to arrest undocumented migrants as part of President Donald Trump’s executive order.
The officials aimed to enforce federal immigration laws in Puerto Rico, following Trump’s directive for stricter policies against undocumented individuals nationwide. Most of those apprehended were from the Dominican Republic.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with federal agencies of the U.S. Department of Justice, stated that they are implementing the presidential executive order by joining immigration enforcement efforts that align with the initiative to “Protect the American People from Invasion.” The agency emphasized the significance of enforcing immigration laws for national security and public safety in the United States. ICE plays a key role in identifying and detaining individuals who may pose a threat, as well as cooperating with other law enforcement agencies to achieve the objectives of the order.
At the time of this report, the exact number of individuals taken into custody was not immediately available.
José Rodríguez, the president of the Committee for Human Rights of Dominicans living in Puerto Rico, reported last week that many Dominicans have stopped working due to fear of U.S. immigration enforcement. He said he visited areas in Río Piedras and Barrio Obrero — locations where many Dominicans typically work — but noticed an absence of people.
“Many are also not going out at night,” he added. “This is having consequences. These individuals earn low wages, cleaning yards and houses, working in construction, and caring for the elderly and children. But increasingly, more of them are not going to work.”
San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo said later on Sunday that his government will not participate or collaborate with the operations undertaken as part of Trump’s executive order.
“Today, with the entry into force of the new presidential executive order on migration issues, we have observed and corroborated the beginning of actions carried out by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) in compliance with this federal directive,” the mayor said in a statement.
“As mayor of San Juan, I want to express my solidarity with all the families affected by these measures,” Romero said “Likewise, it is important to clarify that, so far, I have not been officially notified by any federal authority about the details of the processes that are being carried out in our city. I want to emphasize that neither the Municipal Police, nor any government entity under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of San Juan are collaborating or participating, or supporting these operations in any way.”
“In such a complex moment, I reaffirm our commitment to the values of respect, dignity and humanity that define our city,” the mayor added. “From the Municipality of San Juan, within our legal capabilities, we will offer support, guidance, citizenship classes and assistance to those who need it to ensure that their rights are respected and that due process of law is followed. I have directed the Office of Immigrant Assistance to provide the necessary resources to maximize our efforts.”
La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech said meanwhile that the operation being carried out by the federal government does not have the assistance of commonwealth law enforcement agencies.
“We understand that these operations must be conducted with the sensitivity that is required for those undocumented persons who do not have a criminal record or ongoing criminal investigation,” Domenech said in a written statement. “We have been informed that several of the people targeted by this operation are convicted criminals or people who are the subject of an ongoing federal investigation.”
“For those who are not people with a criminal record, the administration of Governor Jenniffer González will be working with the administration of President Trump in the search for measures to facilitate the integration of people with undefined immigration status into the American community, such as work visas,” the official added.
