Community Rallies in Elmwood Village After ICE Detains Four at Local Restaurant

In a significant show of solidarity, approximately 50 to 100 community members assembled outside Aguacates Mexican Bar & Grill in Buffalo's Elmwood Village last Thursday afternoon. This gathering was in direct response to the morning's operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which resulted in the detention of four restaurant workers.

 

Eyewitnesses reported that plainclothes agents apprehended the individuals around 10 a.m. near the intersection of Elmwood and Auburn Avenues. Videos captured by bystanders depict agents restraining a man on the ground before escorting him to an unmarked vehicle.

 

The protest was swiftly organized by local activists and community leaders. Victoria Ross, interim executive director of the WNY Peace Center, emphasized the community's outrage, stating, "It just shows how outrageous it is, and it is very present in our neighborhoods." 

 

New York State Assemblyman Jon Rivera condemned the operation, describing it as an "aggressive operation" that contradicts the neighborhood's values of diversity and inclusion. 

 

In response to inquiries, an ICE spokesperson confirmed the arrests, stating that the individuals were detained as part of an ongoing investigation and are currently held at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, New York.

 

The detained individuals have been identified as:

 

- Manuel Gonzalez De Leon, 33, from Mexico

 

- Luciano Ramirez-Garcia, 30, from Mexico

 

- Vicente Hernandez-Velasquez, 31, from Guatemala

 

- Geronimo Gilber-Misael, 37, from Guatemala

 

As the community awaits further details, the incident has intensified discussions about immigration enforcement practices in Buffalo and their impact on local businesses and residents.