Rumors of immigration arrests swirl in eastern Nebraska as federal authorities keep quiet

Rumors of immigration arrests swirl in eastern Nebraska as federal authorities keep quiet

LINCOLN, Nebraska — Rumors of ICE activity and arrests have spread across eastern Nebraska, fueled by promises of mass deportations from Washington.

While 10/11 News has received reports of potential ICE operations in Lincoln, Omaha, Fremont, and Schuyler, local and federal authorities have provided little confirmation.

The Omaha DEA posted on Sunday that agents were working with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce immigration policy, but it did not specify where the enforcement occurred.

The Omaha DEA serves a five-state area and confirmed that it has not conducted any operations in Nebraska since President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

10/11 News contacted ICE for clarification on where these operations took place, but a media representative did not immediately respond. ICE’s media phone line was also very busy on Monday.

An anonymous source from a Lincoln advocacy group told 10/11 News that they were assisting immigrants affected by ICE activity, but the group declined to discuss the scope of the activity or whether it occurred in Lincoln or elsewhere.

Both the Lincoln Police Department and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that they had not responded to any ICE service calls.

Meanwhile, immigrants and advocates have used social media to spread information about potential ICE operations in Lincoln and Omaha. Some posts discuss legal rights, while others show videos of vehicles with state plates claiming to be unmarked federal vehicles.

A widely shared post described ICE activity in Schuyler, Nebraska, home to a Cargill meat processing plant that employs many immigrants. According to a post by Omaha law firm Kendall, Crawford & Reeker, PC LLO, ICE and other federal agents conducted sweeps in Schuyler on Monday.

Once again, ICE has not commented on any community activities, and the Schuyler Police Department has not responded. However, the Colfax County Sheriff’s Office stated that they had not been called to assist in any sweeps or raids.

Another rumor circulating on social media claimed that ICE agents planned to visit Schuyler Community Schools on Monday. However, Superintendent Dr. Bret Schroder told 10/11 News he was responding to a different rumor.

Dr. Schroder confirmed that he had heard of a teacher’s alleged arrest by ICE, but quickly dismissed it as false. He had heard rumors about ICE agents passing through the community, but he had no information about them visiting the school.

The superintendent stated that his primary responsibility is the education and safety of the students who arrive at his schools each day, rather than the federal authorities who may be investigating them.

10/11 News spoke with a representative from Kendall, Crawford & Reeker, PC LLO, who confirmed that some immigration-related arrests had occurred in Nebraska recently, but none were serious enough to warrant a raid. The representative went on to say that in recent days, the firm’s phone had been ringing constantly.

On Monday evening, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced on social media that it had arrested 1,179 immigrants that day alone.

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