Community members protest ICE after Bismarck-area detainments increase 

About 75 people protested in Bismarck Friday to voice their opposition to immigration enforcement operations being conducted in the area.

Sonja Mahlum of Bismarck said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is “out of control.”

“They are not going after the worst of the worst,” Mahlum said during the rally in front of the William L. Guy Federal Building. 

The demonstration was largely in response to an increase in ICE activity in the Bismarck area this week, including two arrests that prompted a popular Mexican restaurant to temporarily close.

The owner of Charras and Tequila posted on Facebook Wednesday that two employees were detained by ICE. They have documentation authorizing them to work in the U.S., according to the social media post by the owner, who was not identified by name.

“We work hard to run our business the right way, follow the rules, and provide jobs to our community,” he wrote. “These are people with families, responsibilities, and lives here, and I am deeply worried about them and their loved ones.”

A North Dakota Monitor review of the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center roster on Friday afternoon showed 19 people in custody who were arrested by ICE this week. The Bismarck Tribune, which began tracking ICE detainees earlier in the week, reported more than two dozen ICE detainees in the jail this week.

The restaurant planned to close for a few days, and remained closed Friday.

“Many of our employees are scared to come to work, even though they are legally here,” the owner posted. 

The owner declined an interview request on Friday. St. Paul attorney Nico Ratkowski, who is representing the restaurant employees, also declined to comment Friday.

Venezuelan men shipped to brutal prison under Alien Enemies Act ask court for due process

A spokesperson for ICE said Friday the two employees entered the U.S. illegally and have no legal status to remain in the country. The spokesperson said they will remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.

“To be clear: work authorization or a pending application does NOT confer legal status in the United States,” the spokesperson wrote in an email. 

The Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office was notified that immigration enforcement operations were going to be conducted, Sheriff Kelly Leben said. 

“It’s my understanding that these are targeted enforcement operations and they have intelligence on what they are looking for,” he said. “To me, this would be what I would consider routine enforcement.”

The sheriff’s office monitored and assisted because of the tension across the U.S. with immigration enforcement, Leben said.

“We played a very limited role in the operation,” Leben said.

Nick Chase, U.S. attorney for North Dakota, said Friday his office has not charged any criminal cases in connection with ICE arrests in Bismarck. A small percentage of ICE detainments become criminal cases, he said.

During the protest, attendee Rachel Patrie of Bismarck said due process rights are important for those arrested by immigration officers in North Dakota and across the country.

“It is unconstitutional, and I think we have to stand up when things are going wrong in our country,” Patrie said. “I believe that people who are trying to be here legally should be allowed to be here legally, if they are putting in the effort to be here.”

Fran Joersz of Bismarck said she wanted to protest arrests of the Charras workers and also immigration officer-involved shootings in Texas, Maine and Minnesota.

She said she is incredibly proud of the people who are speaking up and standing up for immigrant communities. 

“It just seems like we should have a path to citizenship,” Joersz said. “It’s not my America.”