Immigration arrests reported in Ottawa County

DANBURY TWP. — More immigration enforcement action appeared to take place in the region on Thursday evening. According to sources, agents from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources joined a group of approximately seven other men, some wearing name tapes identifying them as "Border Patrol" on their tactical vests, searched U-Haul trucks in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant on Northeast Catawba Road, "swept the restaurant," then proceeded to enter a construction site next door and another nearby restaurant. Agents also removed at least two people from a hotel next door. Agents were seen leaving with several restrained people from the area. A source who witnessed the federal agents' actions said he was unable to identify the governmental affiliation of most individuals who took part in the sweep. "Most of the guys didn't have any identifying badges, but I did see an (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) officer and a Border Patrol vest among them," they said. Video obtained by the newspaper showed an Ohio Department of Natural Resources pickup truck parked in the fast-food restaurant's parking lot. It is unclear how many were detained, where they were taken, what their immigration status is, or what, if any, charges they were arrested on. Calls to Border Patrol, ICE, the Ohio Department of Natural Resourcesand the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department were made Friday afternoon, but none of the agencies immediately responded. Border Patrol and ICE have also not responded to multiple requests over the past two weeks for information relating to at least two other recent immigration enforcement actions in Sandusky. Editor's note: If you have information on federal immigration enforcement actions taking place in Erie, Huron, Ottawa or Sandusky counties, contact reporter Terry Burton at 567-805-4327. Sources can request anonymity.