^{The “love your neighbor” crowd is silent — again.}

https://www.newsweek.com/third-grade-student-ice-protest-immigration-2056141

The detention of a third-grade student and his family by federal immigration authorities has drawn widespread criticism from community members and immigrant rights advocates, culminating in a protest Saturday where around a thousand people marched to border czar Tom Homan‘s home in a small New York village, calling for their release.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump pledged to remove millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States. However, enforcement operations have also included non-violent undocumented immigrants, leading to criticism from advocacy groups and community leaders. Community members and advocates argue that such actions disrupt families and instill fear in communities, potentially deterring immigrant families from engaging with public institutions such as schools.

What To Know

Protesters in Sackets Harbor marched more than two miles round-trip from a local park to Homan’s residence, carrying signs and chanting “Bring them home” in response to the family’s detention.

ICE agents conducted a raid at North Harbor Dairy in Sackets Harbor, targeting an individual charged with possession of child pornography. In addition to apprehending the primary suspect, seven others were detained at a local dairy farm last month, including a mother and her three children enrolled in the local public school.

The demonstration, organized by the Jefferson County Democratic Committee, began with a rally that included a written statement from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who said she was “heartbroken and angry” over the incident.

While a small group of counterprotesters also joined, the event remained peaceful.

Jaime Cook, who is in her first year as principal of Sackets Harbor Central School, attended the march.