A social media post spread rapidly Tuesday about an alleged encounter with immigration agents in a Lawrence grocery store parking lot, but the incident never occurred.
“ICE just stopped my son and said ‘let me see your papers,’” the Facebook post from a parent of a University of Kansas student stated.
But the student later said it didn’t happen — he was experiencing a mental health episode and regrets how rapidly the story spread, he said.
The post claimed that the student was stopped by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in the parking lot of the 23rd Street Dillons and forced to show his driver’s license and Social Security card to the agent.
In recent months, similar reports have been widespread, causing worry, fear and uncertainty.
There was a report of ICE agents and government SUVs at LMH Health in January, for instance, but the hospital said ICE was not there. There were also numerous rumors about a downtown Lawrence restaurant getting raided, none of which were founded. Yet another report that spread widely in Lawrence was actually from an incident at an apartment complex in New Mexico.
Prior to the student recanting what he said about the encounter, Sheila Regehr, a spokesperson for Dillons, told this publication that security footage showed that the alleged incident did not happen.
Also, Laura McCabe, a spokesperson for the Lawrence Police Department, said she did not find any call logs or other information involving ICE Tuesday. However, she noted that ICE is “not required to notify us if they are in town and we will only know if they request our assistance.”
“As for spreading fear of any type throughout our community, it’s certainly not very neighborly or kind. That’s for sure,” McCabe said.
Mariel Ferreiro, of Sanctuary Alliance, said it’s difficult to see people “spread rumors that cause more harm than good.”
There have also been reports across the country of people falsely purporting to be ICE agents. If someone claiming to be an ICE agent refuses to show identification, that’s a red flag.
The National Immigrant Justice Center offers recommendations for encountering ICE and has sample administrative and judicial warrants to review on its website.
NIJC warns not to post or repost unverified information online.
Video recording while out in public is completely legal. If you witness an encounter with an ICE agent, please record video and/or take photos and get in touch with The Lawrence Times.
McCabe encourages people to contact LPD if they have questions or concerns. People can call dispatch at 785-843-0250 for an officer or immediate response and “we also hope people feel like they can call, email, or message us if they’re looking for information,” McCabe said.
The University of Kansas offers mental health services for students, including drop-in appointments and after-hours support.
If our local journalism matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
Molly Adams (she/her), photojournalist and news operations coordinator for The Lawrence Times, can be reached at molly@lawrencekstimes.com. Check out more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
Know your rights
If you’re stopped by police:
• Rather than be confrontational during an interaction with police, it’s better to exercise your right to remain silent.
• If an officer asks you for identifying information, confirm that you are being required to provide that information.
• You do not have to consent to a search. Clarify whether you are able to refuse a search. If an officer believes your car contains evidence, your car can be searched without your consent.
More: ACLU of Kansas — Know Your Rights when Stopped by Police in Kansas
If you’re confronted by ICE:
• Stay calm. If you have lawful immigration status, show your documentation. If you’re undocumented, don’t provide false documents, and don’t discuss your immigration status with police, ICE or other officials.
• If an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official comes to your door, don’t open your door. Officers must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter your home. ICE “warrants” do not grant authority to enter a home without consent of the occupant.
More: National Immigrant Justice Center — Know Your Rights: What to do if You or a Loved One is Detained; If You Encounter ICE
If someone you know is arrested in Douglas County:
• You can check the jail’s booking log at this link to confirm and see if a bond amount has been set.
• If bond is set in the case, you can pay it online via this link.
• The Douglas County Community Bail Fund might be able to help with limited assistance for misdemeanor bails. Call 785-764-3684 or email DGCOBailFund@gmail.com.
Latest Lawrence news:
Tricia Masenthin/Lawrence Times
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
