LAW ENFORCEMENT
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity has been a topic of discussion in Hays County this week. On Thursday, the city of Buda and the Kyle Police Department made statements about local Federal immigration Enforcement operations in their jurisdictions.
Both entities stressed on their Facebook pages that they were not involved in these or other ICE operations.
The Hays County Sheriff ’s Office received a call from Homeland Security/ICE at about 7:45 a.m. requesting ambulance assistance for an individual being detained by federal authorities, according to the Kyle Police Department Facebook page. KPD responded to the scene to provide support to EMS. The individual was transported to the hospital by EMS in the accompaniment of Homeland Security personnel.
“The City of Kyle and the Kyle Police Department are not involved with this operation or any other ICE operations, and were not made aware of this operation prior to the 911 Dispatch request,” according to the post on their official Facebook page.
Also on Thursday morning, ICE agents asked the City of Buda if ICE could park a transport vehicle at City Hall to use as a central location for conducting operations in the surrounding area, according to a Buda Police Department post.
“The City requested that the transport bus be relocated to free up limited public parking and the agents complied,” according to a Buda Police Department post that initially appeared on the City of Buda page. “The City of Buda and the Buda Police Department are not involved with this operation.”
Kyle Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale urged Kyle residents to remain calm and avoid confrontations with ICE officials on her Facebook page Thursday.
“I want to be clear: your city leadership intends to protect the residents of Kyle while upholding the law. These two responsibilities are not in conflict. They are both essential to who we are as a community.
“I am asking all of us, regardless of where we stand on immigration policy, to stand united. We are one city. We are neighbors, coworkers, classmates, friends, and family. We must look out for one another and act in ways that keep everyone safe.
“We cannot engage in acts of violence or confrontation. Doing so only puts our community at risk and can give those operating in our city a reason to use unnecessary force or disruption. Our strength has always been our ability to remain calm, lawful, and compassionate.”
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra praised the transparency of both the Kyle and Buda police departments. “That kind of transparency builds trust. And trust is what keeps a community steady,” he stated on Thursday posts on each department.
The Daily Record reached out to the San Marcos Police Department and the Hays County Sheriff ’s Office.
“To my knowledge, the San Marcos Police Department was not advised of any immigration enforcement activities taking place in the city on 1/15,” an SMPD spokesperson said. “That doesn’t mean there weren’t immigration enforcement activities, taking place in the city.
“San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) is committed to protecting the rights and dignity of every person in our community. It is the SMPD policy that no one will be detained or arrested based solely on immigration status or non-criminal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) request. SMPD officers may only ask about immigration status during lawful detention or arrest, and only when appropriate. Victims of crimes and witnesses are not asked about their immigration status unless it protects their safety or directly helps an investigation.”
The Hays County Sheriff ’s Office said they were not involved in the incident.
“The only involvement with the Hays County Sheriff ’s Office was the medical call that was received through our dispatchers. Law enforcement assistance was not requested.”
