ICE Facilities Ambushed by Protestors — Tacoma Police Called to Protect Against Violent Attacker

 

ICE Facilities Ambushed by Protestors — Tacoma Police Called to Protect Against Violent Attacker

7/15/2019

Author: 777 Media Source

   Early Saturday morning a 69 year old man, who has now been identified as Willem Van Spronsen, attacked an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Tacoma, Washington. The self proclaimed Antifa member arrived at the Northwest Detention Center carrying a rifle and soon after began launching incendiary devices, causing a vehicle to burst into flames. Police reported that around 4 a.m. pacific time, Van Spronsen targeted both the facility and nearby propane tanks prior to shots being fired after requests to Van Spronsen to stop had been disregarded.

   Van Spronsen ultimately died from multiple gunshot wounds, but it is unclear how many shots were fired and if the assailant fired shots back. However, officers were not injured during the altercation. ICE released a statement notifying the public that no employees “were harmed nor involved in this tragic accident.”

   Police spokesman Loretta Cool reported that the four officers involved were not wearing body cameras but the detention center is littered with surveillance cameras, so obtaining video of what exactly happened shouldn’t be too difficult. The officers are currently on administrative leave as is department policy.

   It all started at a peaceful protest rally held in front of the detention center on Friday, as the country prepares for nationwide mass deportation raids. The Tacoma facility is run by the Department of Homeland Security and houses immigrants (with as many as 1,575 beds) awaiting deportation proceedings. More specifically the Northwest Detention Center is run by GEO Group, which in an email to The Associated Press, expressed that the recent (and baseless) accusations of how migrants are treated at the facility,

    “have led to misplaced aggression and a dangerous environment for our employees, whose safety is our top priority. Violence of any kind against our employees and property will not be tolerated. We are thankful for the quick and brave action by the Tacoma Police Department, which prevented innocent lives from being endangered.”

   The group discredits recent allegations that immigrants are being mistreated and has said that the center is equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, recreational activities, a bed for every single individual, as well as round the clock medical care.

   Contrarily, GEO Group was involved in a lawsuit last year where a federal judged ruled in favor of Washington State indicating that they could move forward with a suit which sought to force the group to pay immigrants minimum wage for any work done at the detention center.

   During a very fragile Congressional hearing Friday, which addressed the Trump administration’s child separation policy, former ICE director Tom Homan defended law enforcement from ever criticizing Democratic politicians. He became emotional as he stated,

   ”As a 34-year veteran of law enforcement, it is shocking, shocking to see constant attacks against those that leave the safety and security of their homes every day, put on a Kevlar vest and put a gun on their hip and risk their own safety to defend this nation.”

  Similarly to the Tacoma attack, in Aurora, Colorado on Friday a seemingly peaceful protest gathered outside a U.S. ICE facility. The protest was in regards to the upcoming raids to remove immigrants who are trying to escape deportation. Although there were no physical attacks, protestors used their right to free speech to insult and demean the country and flag, which gives them that right in the first place.

   Protestors pulled down the American flag and replaced it with the Mexican flag. They also removed a “Blue Lives Matter” flag and spray painted over the words with “Abolish Ice.” They then raised the flag next to the flag of Mexico upside down, however, Aurora police Chief Nick Metz reportedly said that majority of the protestors were peaceful.

   These protests are very well funded and have taken on the name #LightsForLiberty as well as “March to Close Concentration Camps”. According to the event’s Facebook page, protestors are demanding all U.S.-Mexico border detention centers be closed and those immigrants being held should be granted entry into the U.S. without question. Protestors have gone so far as to stuff signs in their children’s arms with the message “protect the children” printed on them.

   Regardless of your stance on ICE one thing is certain, safety amongst citizens and migrants alike is essential for progress. We are thankful that although there was a tragic death, no innocent individuals were harmed. Hopefully these protests will remain peaceful as is the intent of our founding fathers and the citizens of our country.



Source:

https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/ice-shoots-kills-man/

https://www.foxnews.com/us/washington-man-killed-at-ice-detention-center-manifesto

https://www.foxnews.com/us/colorado-protestors-rip-down-american-flag-at-ice-facility-raise-mexico-flag-vandalize-blue-lives-matter-flag