A mother and three children have taken refuge in a Grand Rapids church after the father was detained by immigration officers, according to local immigration activists.
Organizers with Cosecha Michigan and GR Rapid Response to ICE say Carlos Menjivar has already made plans to voluntarily depart the U.S. with his family this Saturday. Last week he showed up for a scheduled meeting as part of his enrollment in the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program. The program is an alternative to detention for some immigrants who are in deportation proceedings.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement says before allowing immigrants into the ISAP program, officials consider criminal history, family obligations and community ties to determine if a person can be released rather than being detained while awaiting deportation…