Leaders Condemn 'Militarized' ICE Raid In West Norriton

WEST NORRITON, PA — Leaders from throughout Montgomery County and the greater Norristown area, a predominantly Democratic-run region, have sharply condemned the "militarized" ICE raids that occurred earlier this week.

The raid at the Super Gigante market in West Norriton on Wednesday resulted in 14 people being taken into custody. Their current status is unknown.

The West Norriton Board of Commissioners called it a "military-style invasion."

Related: ICE Raids Hit Norristown, Spark Terror In Community

"This isn’t about public safety," State Sen. Katie Muth said. "It’s about fear and control. It’s about putting a price on the heads of immigrants for the sake of headlines, rather than creating a real, humane path to citizenship for the people our communities, and our economy, depend on every day."

Muth's office said none of the arrested individuals appeared to have any criminal history.

"These types of events here, and anywhere else in our country, terrorize communities and make the most vulnerable among us feel unsafe," West Norriton commissioners added. "Masked, unidentified, and militarized individuals roaming this country and seizing people without warrants or probable cause, and in many cases denying them the due process of law, should be alarming to all of us, no matter what beliefs we hold."

Images from the scene circulated social media in the day following the raid, showing heavily armed and masked agents flanking and surrounding the parking lot and perching on top of the roof of the market.

"The administration in Washington is not focused on removing dangerous criminals from our streets—whether they are undocumented immigrants or white-collar criminals who exploit working families," Muth added. "Instead, these raids amount to nothing more than political theater, targeting people who contribute to our society, not threaten it."

The raid was culmination of several days of smaller activities by ICE around Montgomery County, which is home to a massive immigrant population. Smaller raids were reported by advocacy groups in nearby communities of Ambler, Hatfield, Cheltenham, and more.

Montgomery County's Democratic leadership has drawn the ire of President Trump's administration, landing on a list of "non compliant" counties and cities that had ordered local police to not cooperate with ICE activity, labeling it as terroristic and illegal.

The Mexican consulate in Philadelphia said they were monitoring the situation.

While the Department of Homeland Security's Philadelphia office routinely issues releases and comments on details on raids and arrests in the area, they have not issued any public statement yet regarding the West Norriton raid. Patch has reached out to their office for comment.

Just hours after the agents departed, a large group of community members gathered in the Super Gigante lot for a vigil.

In nearby Bridgeport, advocacy group Unides Para Servir Norristown held a rally. More than 50 people attended.

Organizers said they hoped the response showed the community that they don't need to be afraid.