Brooklyn Deacon Detained by ICE Despite No Criminal Record

On Thursday, federal immigration officials carried out a raid at a Brooklyn deacon’s Bensonhurst home, detaining Sebastian Renoj Barreno and several other community members.

According to Pastor Erick Salgado of Iglesia Jovenes Cristianos, Barreno, a long-standing deacon with no criminal record, was targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Salgado reported that ICE agents were stationed outside the church building, apprehending individuals, including Barreno, upon their departure.

City Council Member Susan Zhuang confirmed Barreno’s status as an active community member who had served the neighborhood for many years, expressing concern over his lack of criminal history.

The detention of Barreno, who now faces proceedings in a New Jersey detention center with legal representation, highlights the ongoing issue of ICE operations impacting local residents.

Salgado noted that ICE has recently focused on detaining blue-collar workers in specific areas, while Zhuang emphasized the lack of due process and offered free immigration representation through her office.

Furthermore, Salgado stated that approximately half a dozen other Brooklyn residents were also detained during the same raid, raising questions about the scope and targeting of these enforcement actions.

According to data from the American Immigration Council and the Deportation Data Project, a significant number of ICE detainees lack criminal records, illustrating the complex nature of current immigration enforcement.

(Micah 6:8) Justice, mercy, and faithfulness from the Lord should characterize how we understand these events.

(Proverbs 31:8-9) These actions prompt us to consider the call to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves according to source material.

Source: Read the original report

Source record preserved at time of reporting.