Lea este artículo en español aquí.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Park City Police Department told KPCW that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were in Park City Wednesday morning for operations.
ICE notified Summit County dispatch prior to the operation, according to sheriff's spokesperson Skyler Talbot, and agents said they had finished operations and left Summit County as of 9:30 a.m.
“My understanding is that the entirety of their operations were in Park City proper,” Talbot said.
Park City police Lt. Danielle Snelson said the enforcement was “targeted” and that the department “was not asked to assist in any fashion.” She did not confirm reports from eyewitnesses who saw or photographed agents in multiple locations early April 29.
A bystander's video and other photos shared on social media showed what appeared to be federal agents around a car stopped at the on-ramp from state Route 248 onto eastbound U.S. Highway 40.
A Wasatch Latino Coalition Facebook post April 29 said it had received reports from community members that ICE agents had stopped cars in both the Park City and Heber areas.
The advocacy group says that includes instances in which high school students were stopped in Wasatch County.
Heber Police Chief Parker Sever told KPCW ICE did not notify his department of any operations in his jurisdiction.
Park City School District staff had internal meetings regarding its policies designed to keep students safe.
Those policies were also shared with district parents in an email that acknowledged ICE operations in the community.
The district says every child is welcome and has the right to attend public school. It added that it doesn’t collect or keep information about the immigration status of families or students.
“Park City School District maintains strict protocols regarding site access,” PCSD said in an email to parents. “No student will be released to federal immigration authorities without presenting a valid judicial warrant.”
According to the Wasatch Latino Coalition, ICE can legally detain minors. But, people under 18 should not be held in adult jails and should be held together with relatives.
Immigration experts say residents do not have to open their door, answer any questions or sign any documents if immigration agents ask them to do so. And agents cannot enter homes or search people’s belongings without a warrant signed by a judge.
More information about rights and resources is available here.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is confirmed.
