A manager of a New York bagel house was detained by federal immigration agents earlier this month, sparking outrage across the community.
Fernando Mejia, 41, who runs Port Washington’s Schmear Bagel & Cafe, was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside the business on June 12, the Long Island Press reported.
When contacted for comment by Newsweek, a spokesperson for ICE said: “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encountered Fernando Alberto Mejia-Flores, a Salvadorian national, during a daily routine law enforcement action in the vicinity of Port Washington, New York, June 12. Mejia-Flores was identified as a fugitive alien with a Final Order of Removal. ICE arrested him and transported him to an ICE processing facility in Central Islip, New York.”
Why It Matters
Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, thousands of suspected undocumented migrants have been arrested. The administration has empowered ICE and expanded its enforcement.
The president vowed to remove millions of migrants without legal status as part of a key campaign pledge to carry out what he calls the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history.
Critics argue that these immigration raids instill fear in vulnerable communities and may infringe on constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Concerns have been raised over the impact of deportation policies on the U.S. economy and American business, leading to labor shortages.
The American Immigration Council estimates that the president’s mass deportation policy could slap a one-time cost of $315 billion on the country.
What To Know
Mejia moved to the United States 20 years ago, according to the Long Island Press.
An employee reportedly told the outlet that the manager was detained for allegedly overstaying his visa.
A GoFundMe page, that currently has raised a little over $30,500, has been set up to help raise legal costs for his case.
“Fernando was also recently hospitalized for medical issues, which make his sudden detention all the more dangerous to his well-being,” a post on GoFundMe reads. “His sudden detention has also left his family, including his 14-year-old daughter, emotionally devastated and facing immediate legal battles.”
The spokesperson for ICE told Newsweek that “U.S. Border Patrol previously apprehended Mejia-Flores, on Oct. 18, 2005, near Brownsville, Texas, and determined that Mejia-Flores was inadmissible to the United States.”
They added: “Mejia-Flores was processed and served with a Notice to Appear on Nov. 15, 2005. An immigration judge with the Dept. of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review in New York ordered Mejia-Flores removed in absentia on Jan. 19, 2006.”
In support of Mejia, local residents gathered over the weekend and called for transparency and due process. Chants such as “ICE out, Fernando back!” were heard as dozens of friends, neighbors, and community members met near the café, PIX11 News reported.
The peaceful gathering began across the street from the bagel shop.
What People Are Saying
The family wrote in a post on GoFundMe: “Fernando is well known throughout the Port Washington community—greeting us at dawn, fueling our mornings, and sending our kids off with a high-five. He is also known, at times, as the Easter Bunny and other characters who bring children joy. Fernando loves his community, and his hard work and unwavering dedication embody the American values of integrity, loyalty, and perseverance.
A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Newsweek: “U.S. immigration laws allow aliens to pursue relief from removal; however, once they have exhausted all due process and appeals, the aliens remain subject to a final order of removal and ICE must carry out that order.”
What Happens Next?
According to PIX11 News, supporters of Mejia’s said they will continue their efforts until he’s released.
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