An ICE operation in Queens that involved the use of a military grade armored vehicle has sparked concern and confusion from local residents and elected officials.
As first reported by NY1 Noticias, the armored personnel carrier was spotted Wednesday morning on Forest Avenue near Norman Street in Ridgewood. Agents wearing ICE jackets were seen standing around the street, as a gunner stood watch in the middle of the vehicle.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed that one individual was taken into custody on an unspecified criminal arrest warrant. A spokesperson for Mayor Bill de Blasio said the agents were there as part of a federal investigation into a firearms suspect, who was allegedly found to have been hoarding "about 50 guns, including a machine gun, gun parts and ammunition."
The operation was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is part of ICE, but distinct from the Enforcement and Removal Operations arm responsible for deporting immigrants. Still, neighbors said that a lack of information, combined with growing fears of ICE agents descending into communities, raised alarms on Wednesday.
"People feel terrorized," said Raquel Namuche, an organizer with the Ridgewood Tenants Union. "This happened right across from a youth program for children as young as four-years-old and there seemed to be no safety protocols in place. For people to leave their homes early in the morning and see a tank out on the street is just wild."
Known as a BearCat, the tactical vehicle is commonly used by the military and in some law enforcement capacities. HSI's Special Response Team in New York—similar to SWAT—has one of those vehicles, according to the ICE spokesperson. The federal agency put out a solicitation last year to purchase an additional 16 BearCats.
Councilmember Antonio Reynoso also expressed frustration about the incident, pointing to constant fear in immigrant neighborhoods about the potential for raids and deportations. "I do not understand what necessitated ICE’s use of a tank other than the simple desire to instill fear amongst our community members," he said in a statement to Gothamist. "At this time, we must ensure that residents are connected to resources like the Immigrant Defense Project so that they are equipped to know their rights against ICE."
Additional information about the suspect was not immediately available. We'll update if we learn more.
