Federal agents raid Sanford apartment complex, detain multiple residents: Video
Federal agents raid Sanford apartment complex
Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith has confirmed to FOX 35 that federal agents were on scene at an apartment complex off Live Oak Boulevard early Wednesday morning.
SANFORD, Fla. - Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith has confirmed to FOX 35 that federal agents were on scene at an apartment complex off Live Oak Boulevard early Wednesday morning.
What we know:
Residents at the complex told FOX 35’s Hannah Mackenzie that as many as 12 people may have been detained. The Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed the number of people detained nor the reason for detainment.
Video, captured by an employee of the Roselea Manor Apartments in Sanford, showed three people in handcuffs being escorted by federal law enforcement agents. Their bullet-proof vests read "HSI" and "ERO" which stands for Enforcement and Removal Operations, part of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants with criminal records has been ramping up across the country. On Jan. 29, ICE reported 1,016 arrests.
What they're saying:
Jeremiah Lopez-Perez said one of the men detained was a friend of his.
"Did your friend have a criminal background?" asked Mackenzie.
"Maybe… yeah… a long time ago," Lopez-Perez responded.
Lopez-Perez said he is in the United States legally, and has never committed a crime, but after seeing federal agents detain his neighbors, he skipped work because he was too scared to go outside.
"A lot of people stayed home," Lopez-Perez said.
Hours after the raid, the apartment complex was quiet, and residents were on edge.
"Are there a lot of undocumented immigrants in this apartment complex?" Mackenzie asked one man.
"I think, yeah," he responded.
The man, who didn’t want us to show his face, said he was in the country illegally. He works as a landscaper.
"How old were you when you came here?" Mackenzie asked.
"Fifteen," he responded.
Another man, who also said he is in the U.S. without legal authorization, said he saw four people being detained outside his apartment.
"I think everybody is scared," he said.
What we don't know:
The specific charges or immigration statuses of those detained were not immediately released.
It is not also not known how many people in the complex are undocumented or whether more enforcement actions are planned in the area.
By the numbers:
ICE has been ramping up arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal records since Jan. 23, reporting over 5,500 arrests nationwide.
Big picture view:
The raid highlights the broader immigration enforcement strategy under Trump’s administration.
Fear among immigrant communities continues to grow as federal agents increase detentions.
The long-term impact of these crackdowns on local economies, law enforcement cooperation, and community trust remains uncertain.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith and the Department of Homeland Security.