ICE Agents Blanket Area, But Refute Reports of Door-to-Door Raids Here

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office teamed with federal immigration officials this week on a task force operation.

There was a heavy law enforcement presence on the major highways in the County on Tuesday, June 23. The Record took a drive on Highway 71 from La Grange to the Colorado County Line around noon on Tuesday and counted three traffic stops on the trip there and back. Many more were reported by residents between La Grange and the Bastrop County Line.

Several vehicles were seen being towed away from the stops as well.

Last Friday, Lt. David Beyer of the Sheriff’s Office told the Record that deputies would be participating in an immigration task force with federal officials this week. He said the operation would be focused on the major highways in the unincorporated areas of the County. That appears to be what took place on Tuesday. A number of local folks on social media claimed that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wearing ski masks and driving in a black SUV were going door to door in La Grange, allegedly as part of a sting operation.

La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath and City Manager Jack Thompson said they were unaware of any ICE operations in the City Limits.

Others on social media claimed ICE agents were detaining undocumented workers at job sites around the County. The Record has been unable to verify any of these claims. The Record reached out to ICE on Tuesday for comment about the operation in Fayette County. An ICE representative responded and said he couldn’t speak publicly at this time about the operation, which was still underway. However, he refuted the claims that agents were going door to door. The representative said ICE would report on the results of the operation after it concludes.

Last November, the Fayette County Commissioners Court authorized the Sheriff’s Office to partner with ICE through Operation Lone Star. The Sheriff’s Office has said the partnership could bring the County hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money. Most recently, the Sheriff’s Office upgraded a security camera system at the jail and purchased a new patrol vehicle using grant funds that came through the partnership.

Look for more on this story in an upcoming issue.