NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement carried out a two-night operation in Charleston County early this week, primarily in North Charleston, according to eyewitnesses.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and Highway Patrol (SCHP) assisted in the operation. SLED confirmed it assisted in an operation on Sunday, Nov. 2 and Monday, Nov. 3, while several SCHP vehicles and state troopers can be seen in photos and video taken of the operation on Monday evening.
What happened?
The Charleston chapter of the Community Service Organization, an immigrant advocacy group, said a number of people were detained Monday evening along Rivers Avenue and Remount Road. One eyewitness told CSO she watched SLED seem to pull over “exclusively Latino-appearing drivers” before ICE would reportedly move in with unmarked vehicles. SLED declined to comment further than confirming the days, location, and their assistance in the operation, directing further inquiries to Homeland Security Investigations and ICE, who have yet to respond.
CSO reports that 10 different incidents were documented, and in at least one an eyewitness said a “very distraught” minor was left behind as individuals were taken away in vans. It is unclear how many people were detained in total during the operation, but it is likely individuals arrested during the operation were taken to be processed at a local ICE office or other holding facility…