Hays County officials in Texas on Thursday criticized federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for what they described as “zero respect” in how officers conducted recent immigration raids in the cities of Kyle and Buda, where they said federal authorities failed to coordinate with local leaders and carried out at least one filmed arrest that left a detainee injured.
County representatives said ICE agents operated in multiple neighborhoods in Kyle and Buda during the raids, which occurred on unspecified dates, and they reported that federal officers did not notify local law enforcement or county leadership before the actions took place.
Officials stated that residents and witnesses documented one of the arrests on video, and they reported that the footage showed an individual being detained during an encounter that ended with the person sustaining an injury.
Local leaders said they raised concerns directly with ICE representatives after the operations, and they reported that they questioned the agency about why it did not provide advance notice or share operational details with county authorities.
Hays County officials said they requested information from ICE about the total number of people detained in Kyle and Buda, the specific locations of the enforcement actions, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest that resulted in the reported injury.
County officials stated that they received complaints and inquiries from residents in affected neighborhoods, and they said community members expressed confusion and alarm about the presence of federal agents and the nature of the operations.
Local authorities said they emphasized to ICE that they expect federal agencies to coordinate with county and municipal departments in future operations, and they reported that they asked for clearer communication protocols to prevent similar incidents.
Hays County leaders said they planned to review the available video of the injury incident and any additional documentation they receive from ICE, and they stated that they would assess whether further local action or formal requests to federal officials are necessary.
Officials in Kyle and Buda said they continue to gather accounts from residents who witnessed the enforcement actions, and they encouraged people with video or information about the raids or the injury incident to provide those materials to local authorities.
County representatives said they await a detailed response from ICE regarding the raids, the number and status of individuals detained, and any internal review of the arrest that resulted in the reported injury.
