ICE agents accused of raiding home to arrest immigrants

ICE agents are accused of raiding a private home in Minnesota to arrest undocumented immigrants without a court warrant, violating the inviolability of the home.

Sofia Alvarado and her relatives were on the second floor of their home in Burnsville, Minnesota, on 6/12 when they heard rapid knocking. Agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) then "entered the house without presenting a court-issued search warrant," she told NBC News today.

The house is owned by Alvarado's husband. They live on the second floor, while the first floor is rented to an immigrant couple. This couple had been followed by ICE agents on their way home after shopping at a supermarket.

Surveillance camera footage from outside the house showed that as the couple exited their car, agents rushed forward, pushed the husband down, and restrained him. The wife immediately ran into the house where her 7-year-old son was.

ICE agents restrain the husband at the entrance of the house in Burnsville, Minnesota, on 6/12. Video: NBC News

Alvarado's brother, Angel, who was present during the incident, recounted that after entering the house, ICE agents led his sister, mother, daughter, and niece into the kitchen, demanding their phones.

All four individuals later proved their US citizenship. "They were all scared and crying. The agents even pointed guns at them," Angel said.

In addition to the couple returning from the supermarket, ICE also arrested two other men in the house. The wife of one of these men also reported that agents pointed guns at her while she was holding her 1-year-old son and leading her 7-year-old son.

She stated that her family was from Honduras and crossed the US border illegally seeking work. ICE had previously encouraged her to voluntarily leave the US. It is unclear if all individuals in the house were related.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet commented on the incident. According to US regulations on the inviolability of the home, ICE agents are not permitted to search private residences without a court warrant.

The Burnsville city government stated that it "is typically not informed of federal immigration enforcement activities" nor does it participate in such arrests.