Immigrant families in the Tampa Bay area of Florida have voiced growing concern over reports of immigration enforcement activity in several neighborhoods, after residents said agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement chased and detained people on foot near Fletcher Avenue in north Tampa.
Over the weekend, residents of the Fletcher Avenue area shared videos on social media appearing to show several detentions attributed to agents of the federal immigration agency, raising new questions among immigrant families about how to respond if they encounter immigration authorities.
Chases and Arrests Reported on Fletcher Avenue
According to testimony gathered by N+ Univision, some residents said they witnessed chases and detentions of people walking along Fletcher Avenue and the surrounding area.
Surveillance camera footage appeared to show two men running through a nearby neighborhood after spotting federal agents, according to the reports. The men were reportedly pursued on foot until they were caught and detained.
Guadalupe, one of the neighbors interviewed, said the incident happened as the two men were returning from a nearby store, described locally as belonging to an Arab merchant. Guadalupe said the men ran when ICE agents arrived, and the agents chased them until they caught them. Guadalupe added that this kind of intervention had become more common in the area in recent days.
Neighbors Report Growing Federal Presence
Residents in the area said the operations were no longer limited to workplaces, but had also been reported in public spaces, businesses and residential streets.
Guadalupe said such incidents had been witnessed frequently, with many people taken away while walking or riding in cars, including from taco stands and Mexican grocery stores.
Another neighbor, identified as Gustavo, said he saw a separate operation on Sunday, describing a vehicle chase along the same stretch of Fletcher Avenue.
Gustavo said he did not recall the exact time but was about to leave home when he saw agents pursuing a vehicle. He said a man got out and ran, while a woman who was with him and who has two children did not flee. Gustavo said another woman later came to pick up the children.
Residents said the federal agents' presence had continued for several days, causing concern among shopkeepers and immigrant families in the area.
What Immigrants Should Know During an ICE Operation
Amid the reports of immigration enforcement activity, organizations that support immigrants have stressed the importance of knowing one's legal rights and avoiding impulsive decisions without guidance.
General recommendations include:
- Remaining calm and not interfering with authorities.
- Consulting an immigration lawyer about the options available.
- Learning about the rights people have during an encounter with immigration agents.
- Keeping contact information for family members or legal representatives ready in case of an emergency.
Fletcher Avenue and ICE
Fletcher Avenue, in north Tampa, is a commercial corridor with stores, restaurants and taco stands that serve the area's immigrant population. Neighbors and community groups have named it as one of the sectors where immigration operations have most frequently been reported.
ICE is the federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration law inside the United States, including the arrest and removal of people who are in the country without legal authorization.
As residents continue to report incidents, concern remains widespread among immigrant families who live and work across the Tampa Bay area. Many say they are still waiting for official information from federal authorities about the operations.
