Photos claiming to show Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents making arrests on Sunday at the Heritage Villas complex on Lake Trafford Road and North 19th Street, near the Winn-Dixie in Immokalee, have been circulating on Facebook, sparking fear and uncertainty among residents.
A blurry image shared with NBC2 shows white SUVs and what appear to be law enforcement officers in the background. However, the officers' jackets are difficult to read, and the image provides little detail. The poster alleged that ICE agents detained a man and woman at the apartment complex.
In an anonymous post shared in a local Immokalee Facebook group, a user reposted the same photo, writing in Spanish, "I'd rather stay at home than go wash… better to hang on a few more days with dirty clothes. Take care, friends."
Another photo making rounds online shows black vehicles parked outside the Azteca Supercenter. Community organizations, including Unidos Immokalee , have responded to these reports by issuing warnings about potential ICE activity and sharing "Know Your Rights" information on social media.
Despite the speculation, there is no confirmation that ICE agents were active in Immokalee yesterday. NBC2 spent several hours in the area, searching for unmarked vehicles or signs of ICE presence, but found no activity.
This comes after a recent Facebook post by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office about its partnership with ICE through the 287g program. This program allows state and local law enforcement to assist in enforcing immigration laws. According to CCSO, the department has removed more than 7,400 individuals in Collier County over the past 16 years as part of the program.
NBC2 has reached out to ICE to verify whether any operations were conducted in Immokalee, but as of now, we haven't heard back.