Man detained by ICE agents in Albion; family unsure of what comes next

Albion, N.Y. (WHAM) - The raids by ICE that have been anticipated across the United States seem to have made their way to western New York.

"They just took him and decided to come to my uncle's house and try and knock and break down the windows," said Cody Gomez, the nephew of the man who is being detained. "I know they were denying it."

Antonio, whose last name was not given by his family, was reportedly picked up by immigration officials while he was on his way to work Tuesday morning.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump's acting director of U.S. Customs and Immigration Services, Ken Cuccinelli, said ICE will be targeting individuals who committed serious, violent crimes and have final orders of removal. It is unclear if Antonio committed any crimes considered violent or serious.

Cuccinelli added that ICE has room for the numbers of migrants expected to be taken into custody during the so-called raids.

Antonio's wife said they have been living in the United States for more than 15 years and came here to start a better life. After Tuesday, she said they are not sure what their lives will look like going forward.

Antonio is undocumented.

Antonio's wife said she is still rattled after ICE came to her home in Albion to detain her Tuesday morning. She said she did not want her identity revealed.

"Three minutes after he was picked up by ICE, they came in and tried to come after us and surrounded our house and knocking on door, window and telling us to get out," the woman said.

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She went on to say that after her husband was detained, he managed to call her and let her know what had happened. For the next four hours, she said ICE agents tried to get her to open her door, saying they threatened to take her three children away - the youngest of which is two years ago.

After the ICE agents eventually left, a support group called Rochester Rapid Response Network arrived at the home to offer their help. When they got there, they found damaged windows and screens where Antonio's wife said agents tried to get into the home.

"These are my neighbors. These are our neighbors," said Phil Mogavero, who works with Rochester Rapid Response Network. "These folks live in our communities. They've been here for years. I take it personally. It's a responsibility I think we all have."

Gomez said his uncle came to the U.S. for better opportunities for his family. Now he is getting ready to take responsibility for his aunt and uncle's children.

"We're not doing wrong, just came here to work. We don't bother anyone - don't do bad," Gomez said.

Antonio's wife said she is making arrangements in the event that she is detained as well. She filled out an order of supervision for her nephew to step in and care for the family.

"We are afraid," she said. "I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know what's going on with my husband. So I'm in in fear."

13WHAM News has reached out to ICE officials for comment. An representative for the organization sent out the following statement Tuesday evening:

On July 15, deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Antonio Hernandez-Bautista who was specifically sought as part of a targeted enforcement action. Hernandez-Bautista is a repeat immigration violator, who has been allowed to voluntarily return to his home county on four prior occasions. He will remain in ICE custody, pending removal from the U.S.