The Mason City Police Department (MCPD) began receiving inquiries on whether I.C.E. was in Mason City on Wednesday (01.14), but Chief Mike McKelvey says no one from I.C.E. had communicated with MCPD prior that they would be in town.
Local social media began trending with more and more reports of people being detained and/or questioned in Mason City by I.C.E.. McKelvey says no local law enforcement agencies (Mason City Police Department, Clear Lake Police Department, Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Department, nor lowa State Patrol) were consulted with prior or assisted with any I.C.E. activity in Cerro Gordo County Wednesday or Thursday (01.15).
McKelvey says MCPD confirmed that six people (driving three vehicles), claiming to be with I.C.E., stopped at the Cerro Gordo Law Enforcement Center Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 pm. They asked the sheriff’s office if they had any inmates there with immigration detainers. At that time, there were no inmates with immigration detainers.
McKelvey says, “The group then left and stated that they were going to check with other jails also. They brought no inmates in. They left with no inmates. There are several social media stories about people being detained locally. We have no confirmation of this, nor any missing reports to indicate a mass detainment yesterday or today.”
MCPD also learned that the alleged I.C.E. employees in Mason City are not affiliated with the lowa field office(s) for I.C.E, with the department requesting that the lowa office bring this to the attention of their national I.C.E. organization.
McKelvey added, “Because no local law enforcement agencies were consulted, MCPD is unable to confirm anything else that did or did not happen with I.C.E. Wednesday in Cerro Gordo County.”
***As of about 11:30 am Friday (01.16), Floyd County Sheriff Jeff Crooks said he was not aware of any I.C.E. activity in Floyd County
