ICE vehicles spotted at Lehigh Acres fire station spark fear

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (WINK)—The Lehigh Acres Fire District says its firefighters are not taking part in immigration enforcement after ICE vehicles were spotted at a local fire station.

Just before 7 a.m. Monday, neighbors recorded pictures of ICE vehicles parked at Lehigh Acres Fire Station 107 while others were seen driving through the area. The word quickly spread online, leading to questions about why federal agents were gathered at a local fire station.

The fire district responded, saying it had no role in immigration enforcement, did not authorize the use of its property and that its personnel were not detaining or transporting anyone. But for witness Kristen Bennett, the bigger concern is whether it will keep people from asking for help.

"They don't need to be afraid to go into the hospitals, into the fire department to reach out to law enforcement," Bennett said.

Bennett says many families in Lehigh Acres are already living with uncertainty and believes seeing federal agents at a fire station only adds to that anxiety.

"For fear is ICE going to be involved," Bennett said.

"I have heard people are being sent back to countries they are not even from," she said.

Bennett says the conversation has moved beyond who was or wasn't involved.

"We have seen the process ICE takes; they take you first, and then you can deal with all the legitimacy in front of a judge that's not our problem," Bennett said.

While the fire district says its mission remains serving everyone in the community, Bennett hopes people who feel they don't have a voice won't be forgotten.

"Stand up, have a voice, and speak for them when they can't speak for themselves because most of these people that are being targeted aren't able to speak for themselves," Bennett said.

The fire district says its stations remain open to everyone, regardless of immigration status, and has no further comment at this time.