MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Garrison Gibson, a Liberian immigrant who fled civil war as a child, revealed on Saturday that he has been living in fear since his recent release from an immigration detention center. Gibson's arrest took place during the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota, which have prompted widespread protests across the Twin Cities.
The operation has resulted in thousands of arrests, with over 2,500 reported so far. Video footage showing federal officers forcibly breaking into Gibson's home using a battering ram on January 11 has become a rallying point for those opposing the crackdown.
While Gibson was arrested due to a past drug conviction that has since been dismissed, his ongoing legal status may still be in jeopardy. After being returned home briefly, he was re-arrested during a routine check-in with immigration officials, only to be released following a ruling from a judge who stated that federal officials had not provided timely notice regarding the revocation of his supervision.
Gibson's family resorted to using a dumbbell to keep their home’s door secure after it was damaged during the raid, an expense they had to cover amidst freezing temperatures. The incident has heightened his fears, leading him to declare, I don’t leave the house.
The White House has denied any involvement in Gibson’s re-arrest despite reports indicating that it was ordered by Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the operations as necessary to deport individuals deemed as having no legal right to remain in the country.
Protests against the crackdown have become a daily occurrence in Minneapolis and St. Paul, where immigration officers have been accused of using aggressive tactics in their enforcement actions. A recent federal ruling has also clarified that officers cannot detain or use force against peaceful protesters observing their actions.
Gibson maintains that he has complied with all requirements of his legal status over the past 17 years, emphasizing, If I was a violent person, I would not have been out these past 17 years, checking in.\
The operation has resulted in thousands of arrests, with over 2,500 reported so far. Video footage showing federal officers forcibly breaking into Gibson's home using a battering ram on January 11 has become a rallying point for those opposing the crackdown.
While Gibson was arrested due to a past drug conviction that has since been dismissed, his ongoing legal status may still be in jeopardy. After being returned home briefly, he was re-arrested during a routine check-in with immigration officials, only to be released following a ruling from a judge who stated that federal officials had not provided timely notice regarding the revocation of his supervision.
Gibson's family resorted to using a dumbbell to keep their home’s door secure after it was damaged during the raid, an expense they had to cover amidst freezing temperatures. The incident has heightened his fears, leading him to declare, I don’t leave the house.
The White House has denied any involvement in Gibson’s re-arrest despite reports indicating that it was ordered by Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the operations as necessary to deport individuals deemed as having no legal right to remain in the country.
Protests against the crackdown have become a daily occurrence in Minneapolis and St. Paul, where immigration officers have been accused of using aggressive tactics in their enforcement actions. A recent federal ruling has also clarified that officers cannot detain or use force against peaceful protesters observing their actions.
Gibson maintains that he has complied with all requirements of his legal status over the past 17 years, emphasizing, If I was a violent person, I would not have been out these past 17 years, checking in.\
