14 arrested during ICE raid in West Norriton, Pa.
WEST NORRITON, Pa. (WPVI) -- More than a dozen people were taken into custody on Wednesday during an immigration raid in Montgomery County.
Authorities say they were removed following a federally authorized ICE search at the Super Gigante Market in West Norriton.
ICE says the 14 individuals arrested do not have legal status to be here in the U.S. They will be in custody pending removal proceedings.
Video shows ICE agents dressed in camo standing guard behind the store around 9 a.m.
The store manager tells Action News that ICE agents had a warrant to come inside. She says all 14 people they took into custody are Hispanic men who worked at the store commonly known as the 'West Norriton Farmers Market.'
She says a lot of them were in the process of trying to become U.S. citizens.
Action News also spoke with Hollie Havens, who was across the street when the raid happened.
"I saw about seven or eight, what I believe to be, ICE agents. Men and women dressed in full camo, faces covered... looked to be holding some kind of rifle," she explained.
"I've only seen ICE raids like that on the news. I've never seen one in person. It broke my heart," she added.
On Wednesday evening, a group prayed outside the market. Community leaders in attendance said immigration officials were recently at Super Gigante.
Denisse Agurto, the executive director of Unides Para Servir Norristown, told Action News, "The time when they came last time, they said they were coming back. So we was trying to give them their red cards and give them information."
The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia says it is aware of what happened in West Norriton. It says at least six Mexican individuals were detained.
The consulate is prepared to provide them with legal assistance if they need it.
ICE says this is an ongoing investigation.
In May, the Department of Homeland Security put out a list of jurisdictions it says are obstructing federal immigration laws. Some of the cities on that list included the City of Philadelphia, along with Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties.
