Law enforcement: At least 50 federal agents in Austin for more rounds of ICE raids

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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Law enforcement sources informed KXAN that at least 50 federal agents arrived in Austin this week for another round of immigration raids.

This comes as increased immigration enforcement efforts are happening around the country. KXAN is working to confirm more details about the operations.

The Austin community, including those in the technology space, try to help people know where those raids may be happening.

ICEBlock App, warning people where agents might be

Joshua Aaron, who lives in the Austin area, created an app called ICEBlock. According to the app’s description in the Apple Store, it’s designed to help users, “Stay informed about reported ICE sightings, within a 5 mile radius of your current location, in real-time.”

“ICEBlock is a community-driven app that allows you to share and discover location-based reports without revealing any personal data,” the description continues.

Aaron said the app now has over 1 million users, and continues to grow.

“It’s growing by about 10,000 plus every single day,” Aaron said. “You are simply saying, there are ICE agents here, and you are alerting others around you.”

There are no metrics related to where app users live, or where most reports are happening due to how the app is designed, Aaron told KXAN.

“The whole point of ICE Block is 100% anonymity for the users across the board,” Aaron said. “Do we see an increase when big events happen? I’m sure we do.

There’s been some criticism of apps like ICE block, being bad for ice agents, and drawing too much attention to where they’re at.

Aaron said the app is meant to allow people to “inform, not obstruct.”

Hispanic community leaders continue on-the-ground informing measures

Paul Saldaña, with nonprofit Habla ATX is among a number of Hispanic community leaders, working to keep people informed.

“Trusted sources, immigrant rights coalition, groups, friends, family, word-of-mouth kind of thing, just to kind of keep our eyes and ears open,” Saldaña said.

Saldaña told KXAN various Austin Hispanic Advocacy groups have held community meetings, and continue to meet with officials to express concerns, and get up-to-date information.

“A lot of people are dependent on our local elected officials to take up the burden of making sure that we our civil rights are protected,” Saldaña said.

‘Cheated the system’

Civil rights aren’t in question for those who do support more ICE enforcement. U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan addressed media in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, praising efforts.

“[People here illegally], cheated the system,” Homan said. “No, it’s not ok to be in this country illegally.”

While it’s not clear when new rounds of ICE enforcement will happen in Austin this week, there were at least two reported sightings through ice block near downtown on Tuesday that could not be verified.

“It’s going to ramp up more and more every single day,” Aaron said.

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