Armed Federal agents raided two Summit County properties today, serving criminal search warrants at Hacienda Real restaurant in Frisco and a duplex in Dillon Valley.
Reports of the raids first appeared on social media just before 11 a.m. Within minutes upwards of 20 neighbors and immigrant advocates gathered around the duplex, challenging an estimated 10 agents to remove their facemasks, and filming their every move for more than two hours.
“They’re everywhere,” Summit County local Laura Lee told Krystal 93. “They’re in the front, in the back, they’re inside. They just don’t want to show their faces. If they’re so proud of their jobs, show your face.”
One woman called them “racist” and told them to “get out of my community.” Multiple people driving by cursed at the agents, who wore tactical vests reading FBI and “HSI” for Homeland Security Investigations. Agents rarely responded to questions, except to say they were not with ICE. One declined to show the warrant to anyone except the homeowner. When a passerby asked if the pay was worth it, one agent replied, “Hell yes, it is.”
Outside of the duplex, two tenants, both U.S. citizens, quietly waited to be allowed back inside. Neighbors watched as agents broke the lock on a moving van parked behind the duplex. Inside, the Feds found old carpet rolls.
At the same time, in Frisco, another group of FBI and HSI agents was raiding Hacienda Real, a Mexican restaurant in a strip mall off Exit 203. The two raids were related – the duplex in Dillon Valley belongs to the owners of Hacienda Real.
Local and Federal authorities confirm no one was arrested in today’s raids.
In a Facebook post, restaurant owners say today’s raids came after months of investigation sparked by an anonymous tip claiming they employed undocumented workers.
“We have been cooperating with the authorities and providing all documents requested by ICE,” the post reads. “Unfortunately, this process led to a broader inspection of the restaurant. As part of this investigation, our work equipment was taken, including the computers we use daily.”
The restaurant is closed indefinitely.
Dangerous rumors
Today’s operation comes less than a week after the Summit County Sheriff’s Office dispelled rumors of a local immigration raid. One Dillon Valley local, who asked to remain anonymous, is livid with the sheriff’s office.
“After telling us they weren’t coming through our county, here they are harassing our neighbors under the veil of criminal charges,” the neighbor said while watching agents scour the duplex.
In a recorded statement, sheriff Jaime FitzSimons defends his statement from last week, saying there were no operations at the time. His office did not know until this morning that Feds were coming to Summit.
“ICE has Federal law enforcement powers, and they can operate anywhere at any time under their legal authority,” FitzSimons said. “As a matter of policy we don’t confirm or comment on potential operations involving other agencies.”
Dispelling rumors
These rumors, and the sight of at least 25 armed Federal agents today, sparked fear, anger and uncertainty countywide.
Ariana Reyes is hoping to separate fact from fiction. She manages housekeeping at Keystone, where all of her employees have current work visas, but still they are afraid to work or even walk their kids to school.
“One of them said she had a panic attack, so that is why I came, just to verify they are not knocking on doors or stopping vehicles, or pulling people from vehicles,” Reyes said. “It’s not true.”
Earlier this month, Reyes had the toughest conversation yet – with her 12-year-old son.
“He was scared,” she said. “He was sad. He wanted to know, ‘How can we help? What can we do? What if they take my friends?’ It’s very hard for the kids.”
Reyes told him agents are not coming to Summit for immigration roundups, like those in Denver and other major cities. She believes they will only come here for targeted criminal operations like today’s search warrants.
Other locals, like Laura Lee, are not so sure.
“There’s families that don’t feel safe,” she says. “I’m shaking right now because of my rage and how upset I am.”