Fort Myers hotels targeted after reports of ICE agents on-site

Reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents using unmarked vehicles at the Luminary Hotel in downtown Fort Myers have led to safety concerns, online backlash, and a planned rally by advocacy groups. Videos shared by Unidos, a Latino advocacy group, show various vehicles in hotel parking lots, including those recognized as belonging to ICE. According to Maria, a legal observer with Unidos, the community began sending in these clips on Sunday. "We figured they would be staying in Fort Myers, but we weren't sure which areas," Maria said. "But when the community members saw some of the marked vehicles that they recognized, they were able to go into the parking lots, and they saw that there were multiple undercover vehicles as well as the ones that already are at the ICE office on Salrose Lane." Maria expressed concern about the safety of the community, particularly for individuals from immigrant backgrounds. "So many other individuals that may come from immigrant backgrounds or may be at risk, being racially profiled when leaving work, when working in these hotels. It's very unsafe for them," she said. "And then it's also super unsafe for the community based on the aggressiveness that we've seen the past couple of weeks." The spread of these videos on social media has prompted action from other advocacy groups. The National Organization for Women is organizing a rally outside the Luminary Hotel Wednesday night. "We want people to see across the country and possibly across the world that Fort Myers is not going to put up with that," said Stephanie, vice president of the National Organization for Women in Lee County. "You know, we hear a lot of times that people are pro-ICE in this community, and that's just simply not the case. You know, we are against the inhumane effects. People are getting kidnapped and pulled out of cars in Lee County, and that's not right." Gulf Coast News has reached out to the hotel and the Fort Myers Police Department to see if they are aware. Attempts to reach ICE to find out how many agents could be staying in Southwest Florida have not been successful. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.